Home▸Medicine & Biophysics▸Distal Tubule H⁺ Pump & Renal Tubular Acidosis

Distal Tubule H⁺ Pump & Renal Tubular Acidosis

Interactive 3D model of α-intercalated cell H⁺-ATPase proton pumping into the collecting-duct lumen: dial pump activity, ammonia buffering and tight-junction backleak to see how a failing pump reproduces the urine-acidification defect of distal (Type 1) renal tubular acidosis.

Medicine & Biophysics3DAdvanced60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 2D version

This simulator renders a cutaway of a renal collecting-duct segment lined by α-intercalated cells, each pumping protons across its apical membrane with an H⁺-ATPase against a steep luminal gradient. Ammonia diffusing into the lumen traps a share of that acid as ammonium, and a tight-junction backleak term lets secreted protons leak back into the cell — the same three variables physicians use to explain why urine won't acidify in distal (Type 1) renal tubular acidosis. Drag the pump-activity, ammonia-supply and backleak sliders (or jump straight to the Type 1 RTA preset) and watch the live urine pH, net acid excretion, and slowly drifting systemic blood pH reveal the mismatch: an alkaline urine despite a genuinely acidotic patient.

⚙ Under the hood

Watch α-intercalated cells pump protons into the collecting-duct lumen via H⁺-ATPase, buffer them with ammonia, and leak them back through tight junctions -- dial pump activity, ammonia supply and backleak to reproduce the alkaline-urine-despite-acidemia signature of distal (Type 1) renal tubular acidosis.

nephrologyacid-basekidneyphysiologyrenal-tubular-acidosision-transport

3D · Three.js / WebGL renderer · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install