Effect of Acute Removal of Potassium From the Body on Tissue Electrolytes

Abstract

Following a 2-hour period of vividialysis against a potassium free fluid, the rate of loss of potassium from the blood of dogs was determined (using K⁴²) as well as the electrolyte and water content of heart, liver and skeletal muscle. A significant increase in potassium content of cardiac muscle and in sodium content of liver was found. There was a definite decrease in the specific activity of muscle potassium as well as in the ratio of muscle to plasma specific activity. The rate of loss of blood potassium (K⁴² vascular slope) was diminished in animals in which an amount of potassium less than that originally present in the extracellular space was removed. The data exclude the heart, liver and skeletal muscle as the sites from which potassium removed in acute experiments was derived.