THE DISTRIBUTION OF BODY WATER AND ELECTROLYTES IN ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY 1

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Abstract
A diet high in K hastened the onset of symptoms of adrenal insufficiency in adrenalectomized rats. By analysis of the tissues it was demonstrated that there is an increased concentration of K in the muscle cells of rats showing symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, whereas no such increase is found in the liver cells. The K accumulating in the muscle cell exerts no osmotic effect and is, therefore, thought to be unionized. When adrenalectomized rats are treated with adrenal cortical extract or with a hypertonic solution of NaCl and NaHCO3 the concn. of K in the muscle cell is restored to normal. The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency in the rat were shown not to be related to changes in the distribution of water between the cells and the extracellular spaces.