Final answer:
The correct answer is option d. Na-Cl cotransporters, which are targeted by certain diuretic medications used to treat hypertension, leading to a decrease in blood pressure by inhibiting Na+ and Cl- reabsorption in the kidney’s loop of Henle.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medications used to treat hypertension, specifically diuretics, often act on renal systems to modulate blood pressure. Particularly, option d. Na-Cl cotransporters is correct as certain diuretics target these cotransporters within the loop of Henle in the kidneys. By inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle, these diuretics reduce blood volume and, consequently, decrease blood pressure.
Loop diuretics such as furosemide are commonly associated with this mechanism of action, which leads to increased urine output—an effect known as diuresis. This reduction in fluid retention helps manage hypertension by lowering the overall fluid load on the cardiovascular system, thereby reducing systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure.
The sodium-potassium pump is another significant mechanism involved in regulating blood pressure, but primarily through its role in maintaining cellular homeostasis rather than being a direct target of most hypertension medications.