Electrolyte Metabolism in Pyridoxine, Riboflavin and Pantothenic Acid-Deficient Rats

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Abstract
Muscle and plasma electrolyte concentrations were determined in rats suffering from pyridoxine, riboflavin and pantothenic acid deficiencies. Muscle of deficient rats contained more sodium and chloride than that of normal animals. There was also an increase in the plasma chloride content in pyridoxine and riboflavin-deficient rats. A decrease was observed in the potassium content of muscle in pyridoxine, and of the sodium level in plasma of riboflavin deficient animals. Cortisone, when administered to pyridoxine-deficient animals, reduced muscle sodium and chloride, and increased its potassium concentration. No such effect is found when cortisone is injected into normal or adrenalectomized rats maintained on a full diet. A saline load was imposed on pyridoxine-deficient rats. They responded with a diminished excretion of water, sodium and chloride. Cortisone, which under our experimental conditions had no effect upon the excretion of these substances in normal rats, increased however, excretion of water, sodium and chloride, when given to pyridoxine deficient rats. The retention of sodium and chloride in our deficient rats and their increased excretion following treatment with cortisone is interpreted as a consequence of either the decreased glomerular filtration found in pyridoxine, riboflavin and pantothenic acid deficiencies, and/or of the increased tubular reabsorption resulting from adrenal insufficiency, which both can be restored to normal again by administration of cortisone.