THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON THE RENAL EXCRETION OF WATER AND ELECTROLYTE 1

Abstract

Oral admn. of 147 ml. of 86-proof Bourbon whiskey (50 g. alcohol) to 3 healthy male subjects 5 hours after breakfast resulted in a prompt diuresis which lasted for approx. 2 hrs., and which was not observed when an equivalent amt. of water was taken under the same conditions. Urinary excretion of Na, chloride, and K during alcohol diuresis was very similar to that observed in the control expts. with water. The alcohol diuresis could be prevented by admn. of 1 unit of pitressin or by ingestion of dry NaCl. The diuresis appears to be unrelated to alterations in glomerular filtration rate as reflected by endogenous creatinine clearance and is probably dependent on depression of the normal sensitivity of the supra-optico-hypophyseal mechanism to changes in tonicity.