In response to respiratory alkalosis, what change occurs in the kidneys?

In response to respiratory alkalosis, the kidneys work to help restore acid-base balance by compensating for the primary change that occurs in the lungs. Specifically, during respiratory alkalosis, there is a decrease in carbon dioxide levels caused by hyperventilation, which leads to an increase in blood pH (making it more alkaline).

To counter this alkalosis, the kidneys play a crucial role by retaining more hydrogen ions. This retention helps to decrease the pH of the blood by adding more acidic notes, effectively bringing the body back towards neutral. The kidneys achieve this by adjusting their excretion of bicarbonate and hydrogen ions. Retaining hydrogen ions helps to balance the raised pH by increasing acidity in the blood, thus aiding the body's efforts to return to homeostasis.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the kidney's compensatory mechanisms in response to respiratory alkalosis. While bicarbonate excretion might occur in other scenarios, the primary response during respiratory alkalosis involves retaining hydrogen ions to decrease pH.