Abstract
Summary
The effect of extracellular volume expansion on the oxytocin levels in jugular blood and the influence of oxytocin infusion on sodium excretion as the degree of volume expansion was varied, were evaluated in 8 anesthetized dogs. Extracellular volume expansion was not associated by a simualtneous rise in blood levels of oxytocin in 5 of the 8 dogs studied. Oxytocin infusion did not enhance sodium excretion during a steady state volume expansion and was unable to prevent the fall in urinary sodium as volume expansion was falling. The results indicate that oxytocin does not play an important role in the natriuresis of extracellular volume expansion.
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