TRANSFERS OF CELL SODIUM AND POTASSIUM IN EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL CONDITIONS 1

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Abstract
A series of animal and human expts. in which body fluid and electrolytes were altered have been analyzed for factors which condition transfers of K and Na. In general, K left cells only if it could be excreted in urine, and entered cells only if an exogenous supply of the ion were available. In contrast to the behavior of K, Na moved from cells into extracellular fluid, or in the reverse direction, irrespective of renal function, and despite the absence of exogenous supplies of Na. These transfers of ions were associated with variable alterations in the osmotic activity of cell base. Although reciprocal exchanges of Na for cell K did occur, they were not an invariable finding nor of necessity of equivalent magnitude.