Mechanism of potassium depletion during chronic metabolic acidosis in the rat

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Am. J. Physiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6352434

Scandling, J D; Ornt, D B

Pair-fed rats on a normal K diet were given either 1.5% NH/sub 4/Cl or water for 4 days. The acid-fed animals developed metabolic acidosis, negative K balance, and K depletion. Urinary Na excretion and urinary flow were not different between the groups beyond the first day. After the 4 days, isolated kidneys from animals in each of these groups were perfused at normal pH and bicarbonate concentrations. Urinary K excretion was similar between the groups despite the potassium depletion in the acid-fed animals. In contrast, isolated kidneys from animals with comparable K depletion induced by dietary K restriction readily conserved K. Sodium excretion and urinary flow were similar among the three groups of isolated kidneys. Plasma aldosterone concentrations were greater in the acid-fed rats after the 4 days of NH/sub 4/Cl ingestion than in the control animals. Adrenalectomized rats were treated with either normal (4 ..mu..g/day) or high (22 ..mu..g/day) aldosterone replacement while ingesting NH/sub 4/Cl for 4 days. Only in the presence of high aldosterone replacement did the acid-fed adrenalectomized animals develop K depletion. The authors conclude that chronic metabolic acidosis stimulates aldosterone secretion, and that aldosterone maintains the inappropriately high urinary potassium excretion and K depletion seen in this acid-base disorder.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY
• OSTI ID: 6352434
• Journal Information: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 252:1; ISSN AJPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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551001 -- Physiological Systems-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ADRENAL HORMONES
ALDEHYDES
ALDOSTERONE
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM CHLORIDES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM HALIDES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CLEARANCE
CORTICOSTEROIDS
DISEASES
EXCRETION
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HORMONES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOLOGY
INULIN
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
KIDNEYS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METABOLIC DISEASES
MINERALOCORTICOIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
POLYSACCHARIDES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
PREGNANES
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
RATS
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
URINE
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WATER