Electrolyte Balance Studies in Adrenalectomized Dogs With Particular Reference to the Excretion of Sodium

Abstract

1. Balance studies have been made on three dogs before and after adrenalectomy, performed in two stages. 2. It has been shown that the sodium concentration of the blood decreases in adrenalectomized dogs, as is true in patients suffering from Addison's disease and in cats experimentally adrenalectomized. 3. There are also decreases in the chloride and bicarbonate concentrations which together are approximately equivalent to the decrease in sodium. 4. An increase in the potassium concentration of the blood occurs after adrenalectomy, as reported in other studies. There is no obvious correlation of this change with changes in potassium balances. 5. The balance studies show a striking loss of sodium from the body during the development of adrenal insufficiency. This loss of Na results from an increased excretion of sodium in the urine and is not complicated by loss of base as a result of vomiting or diarrhea. 6. Following adrenalectomy, both the total amount of sodium and its concentration in the urine are markedly increased. This increase in concentration of sodium occurs in spite of an augmented urine volume. 7. The behavior of the chloride ion following adrenalectomy parallels that of the sodium ion, but the loss is not equivalent. 8. During the period of accumulation of non-protein nitrogen in the blood, the rate of water excretion by the kidney is even greater than before removal of the adrenal glands. 9. The possibility of a regulatory effect of the adrenal glands upon sodium metabolism and renal function has been discussed.

Some Effects of Variation in Sodium Intake and of Different Sodium Salts in Normal Subjects 1

“…Earlier studies by others of the action of adrenal cortical extracts and adrenal cortical hormones on sodium and chloride balance suggested a similar effect on both sodium and chloride (6)(7)(8). Such studies in the past have been conducted under conditions that might be expected to cause parallel changes in sodium and chloride balance, i.e., loss of sodium and chloride in the urine following adrenalectomy and retention of sodium and chloride on administration of adrenal cortical extract or adrenal cortical steroids to adrenalectomized animals.…”

The Action of Cortisone and Desoxycorticosterone Acetate on Glomerular Filtration Rate and Sodium and Water Exchange in the Adrenalectomized Dog

“…In the dog, as in man, the ability to conserve sodium is impaired (1,2), there is a fall in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow (3)(4)(5)(6), and diuresis from water ingestion is much delayed (7,8).…”

Evidence That Renal Sodium Excretion by Normal Human Subjects Is Regulated by Adrenal Cortical Activity 1

“…The depletion of body sodium that occurs in adrenalectomized animals and in patients suffering from Addison's disease, and the retention of sodium with reestablishment of balance that accompanies the administration of adrenal cortical extracts, leaves no doubt about the fundamental position of a cortical hormone in the regulation of body sodium in the abnormal states just mentioned (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). ' Since there is a paucity of information regarding the regulation of body sodium content in normal subjects who receive large variations in intake of sodium, our 'studies were designed to learn 'the role of adrenal cortical activity in this regulation in normal human beings.…”