Final answer:
The kidney regulates bicarbonate reabsorption and regeneration, vital for maintaining the body's acid-base balance. Carbonic anhydrase enzyme within the kidney cells catalyzes reactions that allow the recovery and conservation of bicarbonate ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organ that regulates bicarbonate reabsorption and regeneration is the kidney. Bicarbonate recovery is crucial for the acid-base balance of the body, and it is facilitated by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA). This enzyme promotes the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid, which then dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions in the renal tubules, particularly in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). The bicarbonate ions are eventually transported back to the blood, thereby maintaining pH balance.
Role of Intercalated Cells
Intercalated cells within the nephron also play a vital role in acid-base homeostasis by reabsorbing bicarbonate ions and potassium while secreting hydrogen ions, hence regulating blood pH. These mechanisms ensure that the acidity of the plasma is decreased while the acidity of the urine is increased.
Conservation of Bicarbonate in the Kidney
The conservation of bicarbonate in the kidney is a multi-step process involving the reabsorption of sodium ions in exchange for hydrogen ions through an antiporter mechanism, the generation of bicarbonate ions within the cells, and the availability of CO₂ to drive the formation of carbonic acid which then dissociates, resulting in the conservation of bicarbonate ions.