Abstract
Extracellular plasma pH (pHe) of nephrectomized male or female Sprague‐Dawley rats was changed by infusion of either sodium bicarbonate or HCl to predetermined values in the pH rangc of 7.53–7.14, and then held constant for 2 h. Intracellular pH (pHi) of the liver, heart, brain, and two skeletal muscle groups as calculated from the distribution of14C‐labelled DMO (5.5‐dimethyl‐2,4‐oxazolidinedione) was compared to corresponding tissues of a control group and rats treated with the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide (Diamox). When compared to control, changes of the extracellular pH in malr or fcmalr rats were followed by similar effects on pHi in the investigated tissues. At the same extracellular pH three were no statistical differences between pHi values of HC1 or acetazolamide treated rats, though thc arterial Pco2following acetazolamide administration was significantly increased when compared to control or thr corresponding HCl group. This study shows that administration of acetazolamide or HCl rcsrilts in a dosrdependent decrease of plasma and tissue pH, and that both agents may be used as a logical and safe therapy during severe metabolic alkalosis in rats.