What Do Kidneys Do?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
8. Control Production of Red Blood Cells
Kidneys also control the production of red blood cells through a hormone known as erythropoietin, which is produced in the peritubular cells of the kidneys. These cells detect tissue oxygen content as blood flows into the kidneys. When the level of oxygen decreases, the peritubular cells are triggered into producing erythropoietin.
Release of this hormone causes the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, which increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. Erythropoietin also initiates the synthesis of hemoglobin, which is the oxygen-carrying molecule inside red blood cells.
Advertisement
