RESPONSE TO MERCURIAL DIURETICS DURING ALKALOSIS: A COMPARISON OF ACUTE METABOLIC AND CHRONIC HYPOKALEMIC ALKALOSIS IN THE DOG 1

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Abstract
The diuretic response to meralluride was determined in 2 dogs during acute metabolic alkalosis and during chronic alkalosis due to K depletion. Acute alkalosis was produced by sodium bicarbonate infusions and was associated with refractoriness to mercurials. Extracellular alkalosis of a similar degree was produced by K depletion, and the diuretic response to the mercurials was either normal or possibly increased. Results indicate that factors other than the filtered chloride load determine the effectiveness of mercurial diuretics. Since extracellular alkalosis of K depletion is accompanied by an intracellular acidosis, it is postulated that increased acidity of the cells of the renal tubule facilitates the interaction between mercurials and cellular components of the electrolyte transport mechanism.