Abstract
Summary
When renal mass is reduced, sodium excretion per remaining nephron increases so that normal sodium balance is maintained. Since this adjustment might be expected to involve changes in the secretion of sodium-retaining hormones, the rate of production of aldosterone was estimated in rats with azotemia and in control rats. The rate of production of aldosterone, in vitro, was 0.85 ± 0.05 mg/100 g of adrenal/hour in rats with azotemia and 0.96 ± 0.08 mg/100 g of adrenal/hr in their paired controls. The similar rate of production in both groups indicates that changes in aldosterone secretion are not primarily responsible for the adjustments in sodium excretion in renal failure.
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