THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER AND ELECTROLYTES BETWEEN BLOOD AND SKELETAL MUSCLE IN EXPERIMENTAL HYPERTENSION

Abstract

The effect of an abnormal renal circulation and a resulting hypertension on the distribution of water and electrolytes in skeletal muscle of dogs was as follows: (1) By analysis of the muscle the total content of sodium and chloride was found increased and the total potassium content decreased. (2) A redistribution of water occurred in the muscle involving a shift of water from the muscle cells to the extracellular phase. The calculated mean values per kilo of muscle were, extracellular phase (F) = 254, ± 54 gm.; intracellular water (H₂O)_C = 532, ± 47 gm., and total solids (S) = 214, ± 8 gm. This extracellular phase volume of 254 gm. represents an increase of 65 per cent over that found in normal dog muscle.