Studies in Trypanosomiasis. III. The Plasma, Whole Blood and Erythrocyte Potassium of Rats during the Course of Infection with Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma equiperdum

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Abstract
Plasma, whole blood and calculated erythrocyte K, red cell volume detns. as well as trypanosome counts were made on 2 groups of rats infected with T. brucei and T. equiperdum, respectively. The erythrocyte K in mg. % was detd. by the formula: Whole blood K mg. %[center dot]- (Plasma K mg. % X % Plasma volume) [division sign] % red cell volume = Erythrocyte K in mg. %. In T. brucei infected rats, the plasma K increased and doubled by the time of death. The whole blood K was reduced approx. 33-48% of the initial value and the erythrocyte K was reduced 46-49%, during the terminal stages of infection. Similar results were obtained in rats infected with T. equiperdum. The whole blood K was reduced 25-53% of the initial value while the erythrocyte K was also reduced 23-41%, during the terminal stages of infection. Red cell volume was decreased in both infections approx. 34-39%. Since the serum K increased only at the terminal stages of infection it is suggested that the increased serum K is not the cause of death but a consequence of the moribund state. Moreover, since the increased serum K cannot all be accounted for as shown by the whole blood and erythrocyte K, the increased serum K is released from the body cells in general.