Water and Electrolyte Content of Tissues of the Adrenalectomized and Adrenalectomized-Nephrectomized Dog

Abstract

The water, Na and K contents of brain, gut, heart, liver, skeletal muscle, skin and spleen of bilaterally adrenalectomized and bilaterally adrenalecto -mized-nephrectomized dogs are presented. Animals were maintained by means of intermittent peritoneal lavage for periods of 20-40 days without recourse to hormonal therapy. This resulted in changes in the composition of the tissues of a magnitude not hitherto obtainable in acute experiments. Results showed a tendency which in some tissues was pronounced, in others minimal, for Na to enter the intracellular space and for K, to a lesser extent, to leave the cells. Nephrectomy accentuated these changes particularly in skeletal muscle and gut and to a minor extent in other tissues.