Studies in Trypanosomiasis. III. The Plasma, Whole Blood and Erythrocyte Potassium of Rats during the Course of Infection with Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma equiperdum

Abstract

Plasma, whole blood and calculated erythrocyte K, red cell volume detns. as well as trypanosome counts were made on 2 groups of rats infected with T. brucei and T. equiperdum, respectively. The erythrocyte K in mg. % was detd. by the formula: Whole blood K mg. %[center dot]- (Plasma K mg. % X % Plasma volume) [division sign] % red cell volume = Erythrocyte K in mg. %. In T. brucei infected rats, the plasma K increased and doubled by the time of death. The whole blood K was reduced approx. 33-48% of the initial value and the erythrocyte K was reduced 46-49%, during the terminal stages of infection. Similar results were obtained in rats infected with T. equiperdum. The whole blood K was reduced 25-53% of the initial value while the erythrocyte K was also reduced 23-41%, during the terminal stages of infection. Red cell volume was decreased in both infections approx. 34-39%. Since the serum K increased only at the terminal stages of infection it is suggested that the increased serum K is not the cause of death but a consequence of the moribund state. Moreover, since the increased serum K cannot all be accounted for as shown by the whole blood and erythrocyte K, the increased serum K is released from the body cells in general.