Depletion of Carcass Potassium in Rats Made Hypertensive With Desoxycorticosterone Acetate (DCA) and With Cortisone

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Carcasses of rats made hypertensive by injection of DCA or of cortisone acetate contain significantly less K than normal. This K decrease is accompanied by a reciprocal increase in carcass Na. Na restriction prevented both the hypertension and, to a large extent, the electrolyte abnormalities. The K decrease in the carcasses of rats made hypertensive with cortisone is not accompanied by a reciprocal change in Na and develops under conditions of Na restriction as readily as on a high Na intake. Whether this correlation between K depletion and hypertension has causal significance cannot be stated. The marked dehydration present in adrenalectomized rats given cortisone and the striking over-hydration present in adrenalectomized control rats were equally apparent on high and low Na intakes.