Comparison of Effect of Desoxycorticosterone Acetate and Cortisone Acetate on Rat Skeletal Muscle Electrolytes

Abstract

Summary

1. Analyses of skeletal muscle from adrenalectomized rats given cortisone acetate in amounts sufficient to induce severe hypertension revealed no impressive alteration in sodium or potassium content from normal, when dehydration of tissue was taken into account. 2. In contrast, skeletal muscle from adrenalectomized rats given comparable amounts of DCA and with comparable degrees of hypertension, showed, as anticipated, marked increase in sodium and reduction in potassium content. 3. In rats injected with cortisone, blood pressure and muscle electrolytes were comparable in groups maintained on a low sodium diet and in groups with liberal sodium intake. In contrast, in rats given DCA, both hypertension and shift in electrolyte content were dependent on high sodium intake; neither was encountered when sodium content of the diet was restricted. 4. Muscles from adrenalectomized rats without steroid subsidy were normal in all respects in groups provided with liberal amounts of sodium but were overhydrated and depleted of sodium in the group sustaining sodium restriction.