Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Estimation of Nephron Number in Whole Kidney using the Acid Maceration Method
Published on: May 22, 2019
Acid Base Balance and Progression of Kidney Disease
Wei Chen1, David S Levy2, Matthew K Abramowitz3
1Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY.
Abstract:
A large body of work in animals and human beings supports the hypothesis that metabolic acidosis has a deleterious effect on the progression of kidney disease. Alkali therapy, whether pharmacologically or through dietary intervention, appears to slow CKD progression, but an appropriately powered randomized controlled trial with a low risk of bias is required to reach a more definitive conclusion. Recent work on urinary ammonium excretion has shown that the development of prognostic tools related to acidosis is not straightforward, and that application of urine markers such as ammonium may require more nuance than would be predicted based on our understanding of the pathophysiology.
Related Concept Videos
Acid-Base Balance
When the pH of arterial blood rises above 7.45, it results in a condition called alkalosis. Conversely, a drop below 7.35 leads to...
Disorders of Acid-Base Balance
Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis
Respiratory acidosis occurs due to an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide PCO2 in the blood. It often arises from shallow breathing or impaired gas exchange caused by...
Respiratory Regulation of Acid-Base Balance
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are...
Renal Regulation of Acid-Base Balance
In the kidneys, cells within the proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and the collecting ducts secrete hydrogen ions (H+) into the tubular fluid. Specifically, in the PCT, Na+/H+ antiporters secrete H+ while reabsorbing Na+.
However, the intercalated cells in...
Lewis Acids and Bases
A coordinate covalent bond (or dative bond) occurs when one of the atoms in the bond provides both bonding electrons. For example, a coordinate covalent bond occurs when a water molecule combines with a hydrogen ion to form a hydronium ion. A coordinate covalent bond also results when...
Ions as Acids and Bases
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:

