SUSCEPTIBILITY OF RATS TO EXPERIMENTAL PYELONEPHRITIS DURING POTASSIUM DEPLETION*

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Abstract
It has been adequately shown that potassium depletion can produce functional and structural changes of the kidney both in the experimental animal and in man. Clinical data suggest an association between potassium nephropathy and pyelonephritis and there is evidence both for and against such an association in the experimental animal. If such an association were confirmed in the human, it would be one of the most serious of all the consequences of potassium depletion. A recent study carried out in this laboratory clearly demonstrated increased susceptibility of rats to experimental pyelonephritis following recovery from potassium depletion. In the present investigation, rats with acute potassium depletion were injected with 100,000,000 Escherichia coli intravenously. Groups were sacrificed at one and three week intervals and subjected to bacteriological and histological study. Seventeen of 39 potassium-depleted and 6 of 38 controls had pyelonephritis (p <c 0.02). The factor responsible for this increased* susceptibility is unknown, but the authors believe that the most likely one is tubular obstruction or "internal hydronephrosis.".