Water and Electrolyte Distribution in Cardiac Muscle

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Abstract
Electrolyte analyses are presented on cardiac muscle and serum from cats which were subject to adrenal deficiency, excess adrenal corticoids, salt deprivation, excess salt, peri-nephrectomy or various combinations of the above. Water, Na and K distribution have been derived according to a modified Conway hypothesis. Intracellular concn. of Na decreased in adrenal deficiency and in salt depletion; it increased following excessive adrenal hormones or salt admn. and during perinephritis. Changes in intracellular K were in the opposite direction. Two conclusions suggested by the present data are discussed: that water does not move freely to maintain iso-osmolarity; and that the extracellular fluid volume increases more than intracellular fluid volume during adrenal insufficiency.