THE CONTROL OF THE RENAL EXCRETION OF WATER

Abstract

1. The administration of the posterior pituitary antidiuretic hormone by constant intravenous infusion has been used to examine the two characteristic actions of the hormone; namely, the facilitation of the active renal tubular reabsorption of water distally in the nephron and the inhibition of the renal tubular reabsorption of sodium proximally. 2. Experimental evidence was obtained which indicates that variations in the excretion of water and electrolyte involve the integration of these two actions with obscure variables which are discemible in the experimental data but are not subject to definition at this time. 3. Graded antidiuresis in the animal with diabetes insipidus, when normally hydrated, was only obtained in the range of 0.001 to 0.005 unit (pressor) per hour. This range of hormone administration was also found to be physiologically active in the normal animals. These observations together with others permit the placing of the normal rate of liberation of the antidiuretic hormone in a10 to 15 kilo dog in the range of 0.001 to 0.005 unit per hour.