Abnormally low concentrations of potassium, at times associated with muscular paralysis, have been observed in the serum of diabetic patients while under treatment for acidosis or coma (1)(2)(3)(4). Available data indicate that deficits of cell potassium are also present in at least some of these subjects (5). In an attempt to characterize and quantitate the magnitude of these deficits, exchanges of water, electrolytes, carbohydrate, and protein have been investigated in diabetic acidosis and coma prior to, during, and following the administration of potassium salts. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND METHODSEight cases in all have been studied. Of these, two were adults and the remaining six juvenile diabetics 16 years of age or younger. On admission all had Kussmaul breathing, a marked reduction of the serum bicarbonate content, hyperglycemia, glycosuria, and ketonuria.Studies during treatment and recovery were divided into three periods. The first or pre-KCl period extended from admission to the point where the patients had improved sufficiently to be maintained on an oral intake. During this time insulin, 0.9 per cent saline, and, once the blood sugar began to drop, glucose solutions were administered in amounts summarized in Table I. Under this treatment ketosis diminished, overbreathing ceased, hyperglycemia decreased, and mental clarity returned. This interval lasted 12 to 25 hours in the individual subjects. During the second or KC1 period, 22 to 37 hours in length, the patients received insulin, 10.0 to 30.0 grams of KCI per os or intravenously, whole milk containing added carbohydrate, and water as desired. The third or post-KCl period began after the final dose of KC1 and lasted up to 34 hours. During this time the patients received insulin as needed, together with measured amounts of water and milk.In all subjects concentrations of the whole blood nonprotein nitrogen, blood sugar (6-8), and the levels of serum chloride, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium and water were measured at the beginning and end of each period (6,(9)(10)(11)(12). Average values for the electrolyte, carbohydrate, and protein content of fresh milk have been used in calculating the intake (13, 14). Urine excreted during each period was analyzed for nitrogen, sodium, potassium, chloride, and glucose (6, 10, 11, 15, 16). Body weight was determined when possible at the start and end of each period. METHOD OF CALCULATIONAlterations in extracellular fluid volume were calculated from changes in the chloride space, based on the external balance of this anion and corrected for changes in the serum concentrations of chloride as described by Elkinton and co-workers, and by . In view of the dehydration known to develop in the course of diabetic acidosis and coma, the initial extracellular volume was assumed for purposes of this calculation to be 15 per cent of the body weight rather than the usual value of 18.7 to 23 per cent found in non-dehydrated human subjects (20). In two instances a pre-treatment weight could not be obtained. A reasonable assumpt...

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A rapid ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid titration for calcium and magnesium in serum requiring 0.1 ml of blood is described. Eriochrome black T is used as the sole indicator and the end point is observed photometrically. After determination of total calcium and magnesium, the calcium is removed as oxalate, the magnesium determined separately, and the calcium obtained by difference. The method is highly reproducible and is sensitive to ± 0.1 mg% of either calcium or magnesium.

a razor blade) to expose the immature tassel for measurement. Test plants from each planting were used to estimate the stage of plant maturity for the remaining plants.Gibberellin-induced male sterility, ranging from tassels barren of all floral parts to tassels which approached normal pollen shedding, was found. Most sterile tassels developed all floral parts except stamens (pollen and pollen sacs). On partially fertile tassels the upper portion of the central spike or the terminal portions of the lateral spikes, or both, developed staminate spikelets and shed pollen. The number of anthers extruding from staminate spikelets during flowering was recorded as trace, light, moderate, and normal as a measure of relative fertility of the tassel. Silks were functional, and open-pollinated seed from male-sterile plants produced plants with fertile staminate flowers.The early flowering line planted 1 June showed no gibberellin-induced male sterility in any of the treatments, and the data are not presented. The immature tassels of this earlier flowering line, being considerably more than 1 in. in length when treated, had apparently passed the stage of development for chemical induction of male sterility.Data from field experiments are presented in Table 1. The late-flowering line planted 1 June showed sterility in varying percentages of tassels, depending on the time of application and the concentration of gibberellin applied. Application of both concentrations (500 and 1000 parts per million) of gibberellin 56 days after planting induced fewer sterile tassels on the main stalk, but it a razor blade) to expose the immature tassel for measurement. Test plants from each planting were used to estimate the stage of plant maturity for the remaining plants.Gibberellin-induced male sterility, ranging from tassels barren of all floral parts to tassels which approached normal pollen shedding, was found. Most sterile tassels developed all floral parts except stamens (pollen and pollen sacs). On partially fertile tassels the upper portion of the central spike or the terminal portions of the lateral spikes, or both, developed staminate spikelets and shed pollen. The number of anthers extruding from staminate spikelets during flowering was recorded as trace, light, moderate, and normal as a measure of relative fertility of the tassel. Silks were functional, and open-pollinated seed from male-sterile plants produced plants with fertile staminate flowers.The early flowering line planted 1 June showed no gibberellin-induced male sterility in any of the treatments, and the data are not presented. The immature tassels of this earlier flowering line, being considerably more than 1 in. in length when treated, had apparently passed the stage of development for chemical induction of male sterility.Data from field experiments are presented in Table 1. The late-flowering line planted 1 June showed sterility in varying percentages of tassels, depending on the time of application and the concentration of gibberellin applied. Application of both co...