Suppression of Sodium Excretion by the Colon in Congestive Heart Failure and Cirrhosis of the Liver Demonstrated by the Use of Cation Exchange Resins 1

Effect of d-Aldosterone on Salt and Water Absorption from the Intact Human Colon*

“…Our data show that the colon, as has been postulated (5,9,11,14), can be influenced by aldosterone as are many other biological systems. Our data, however, do not indicate whether aldosterone plays an important regulatory role in sodium absorption from the colon under conditions of normal production rates of this hormone by the adrenal because the amount of daldosterone given to our subjects (1 mg) greatly exceeded the amount of aldosterone elaborated by normal subjects (150 ptg to 300 jug per day) (28).…”

“…Whether aldosterone influences sodium absorption from the human intestine has not been directly measured but has been postulated on the basis of indirect evidence and animal studies (5,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Berger and Steele (11) demonstrated that the amount of sodium removed from the gut when a cation exchange resin was fed orally was considerably less in patients with congestive heart failure and decompensated cirrhosis (both conditions in which aldosterone secretion is increased) than in normal controls.…”

The effect of deoxycorticosterone on the undirectional transfers of sodium and potassium into and out of the dog intestine

“…More sodium is removed by the resin from the normal individual than from the oedematous patient, who fails to excrete sodium in the urine in amounts equal to the dietary intake (Berger & Steele, 1952). Administration of resin to individuals who lack the sodium-retaining hormone (e.g.…”

“…The patient with congestive heart failure or cirrhosis of the liver, who gains oedema fluid daily, fails to excrete sodium in the urine in amounts equal to dietary intake. This abnormal conservation of sodium is not limited to the kidney, since the sweat glands, salivary glands, and colons of these patients also conserve sodium (Berger & Steele, 1952). In order to effect this abnormal conservation, in the case of the nephron and colon sodium absorption is increased, while in the case of the salivary gland and sweat gland secretion is decreased.…”

GASTROINTESTINAL WATER AND ELECTROLYTES. I. THE EQUILIBRATION OF RADIOSODIUM IN GASTROINTESTINAL CONTENTS AND THE PROPORTION OF EXCHANGEABLE SODIUM (Nae) IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT 1

“…In humans, shifts into this compartment might produce significant internal loss of sodium from the interstitial-plasma compartment. The finding of decreased fecal extraction of sodium with cation exchange resins in patients with edema suggests that disease states may alter sodium exchange or induce shifts of sodium across intestinal mucosa (25).…”