Studies on the Action of Diuretics. Ii. The Effect of Salyrgan Upon the Water Content of the Plasma as Measured by the Refractive Index

Abstract

There are conflicting reports in the literature concerning the effect of the mercurial diuretics upon the water content of the plasma. Saxl and Heilig (1), Bohn (2, 3) and Crawford and McIntosh (4) have reported that the concentration of protein in the plasma falls before the onset of novasurol diuresis. Miihling (5), Nonnenbruch (6) and Bleyer (7), on the other hand, found no such evidence of plasma dilution.In a previous publication (8) evidence was presented that salyrgan diuresis is the result of decreased reabsorption of water in the renal tubules. It was suggested that this decrease in reabsorption is produced by a depressant action of the drug on the tubular epithelium. The occurrence of hydremia preceding the onset of diuresis would be inconsistent with this hypothesis and would point to a primary extrarenal action, occurring alone or in conjunction with a direct action on the kidney. Carefully controlled studies of the effect of salyrgan upon the refractive index of the plasma have, therefore, been carried out. For purposes of comparison similar studies have been made with intravenously administered physiological saline solution. PROCEDUREThe experiments were performed upon unanesthetized female dogs who lhad gone without food for twelve hours or more. In Control Experiments 1 to 7 inclusive, and in the first seven salyrgan experiments, the animals were permitted to drink water as desired until two hours before the beginning of the experiment. In all other experiments the dogs were allowed no water for five hours preceding the period of observation. During the experiment the dog was tied down on a table. After a period of training the animals would remain in this position for two to three hours without struggling. Urine was collected from the bladder directly into graduated cylinders by an inlying catheter. Blood samples were drawn from the external jugular vein without stasis. Heparin (0.01 cc. of a 4 per cent solution to each cc. of blood) was used to prevent clotting. In Control Experiments 1, 2, 3, and 4 and in salyrgan Experiments 1 and 2 the blood 741

The Effect of the Mersalyl‐Theophylline Complex on Connective Tissue Electrolytes

“…1944;R~EZEN 1964). However, many other investigators have been unable to demonstrate any changes in specific gravity, osmotic pressure or electrolyte concentrations of the blood after treatment with mercurial diuretics (SCHMITZ 1933;BLUMGART et a/. 1934;BRYAN et a/.…”

Mechanism of Diuresis: Alterations in the Specific Gravity of the Blood Plasma With Onset of Diuresis in Heart Failure

“…Bryan, Evans, Fulton, and Stead (2) thought that salyrgan resulted in concentration of the blood, since sustained rise in its specific gravity occurred coincident with diuresis in dogs made edematous by plasmapheresis. Schmitz (3) did not find evidence that salyrgan mobilized fluid into the blood stream before the onset of diuresis. Blumgart, Gilligan, Levy, Brown, and Volk (4) concluded from observations on normal subjects that diuresis following xanthine and mercurial drugs was not initiated by the kidneys in response to measurable changes in specific gravity or sodium or chloride contents of the blood.…”

Mechanism of diuresis: Alterations in the specific gravity of the blood plasma with onset of diuresis in heart failure

“…(Received for publication July 3,1940) There are divergent views concerning the mechanism by which diuresis is initiated. Many of the observations on this subject relate to mercurial drugs.…”