Abstract
Summary
Twenty-four-hour fasted, intact dogs given 250 ml of 0.9% saline by stomach tube readily increase their plasma volumes due to rapid intestinal absorption of salt and water. Adrenalectomized dogs are unable to increase their plasma volume when subjected to similar treatment but promptly respond to saline plus adrenal steroids by rapid rise in volume. Intact dogs deprived of food and water for extended periods likewise markedly increase their plasma volume when given glucocorticoids by vein. Mineralocorticoids have no effect on the plasma volume of dogs receiving either tap water or saline orally during the brief time set by these experiments. The experiments indicate that certain adrenal steroids appear to be involved in the active transport of certain electrolytes (presumably sodium) and water across cellular membranes.
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