Tissue Electrolyte Content of Potassium and Protein-Deficient Rats

Abstract

Summary

Balances of nitrogen, chloride, sodium and potassium and changes of the electrolyte content of skeletal muscle, kidney, heart muscle and liver were observed in potassium and protein-deficient rats upon supplementing the diet with (1) potassium and protein, (2) potassium, and (3) protein. Principal attention was focused on the findings encountered when the deficient diet was supplemented with protein, since a redistribution of potassium within the body seemed to occur. Realimentation with protein was attended by an unsatisfactory nitrogen retention and a poor growth response. The plasma potassium concentration became reduced, there was a precipitous fall of the skeletal muscle potassium content, and there were reductions of the potassium concentration of the kidneys, heart muscle and liver. The animals continued to be in a negative potassium balance, but the latter was not of a sufficient magnitude to account for the muscle potassium loss. Calculations based on the tissue potassium concentration and changes in tissue weights indicated a small gain of potassium by the kidneys and a significant gain by the liver. In its redistribution within the body, a fraction of potassium theoretically released from skeletal muscle remained unaccounted for. It was concluded that this potassium entered sites other than the kidneys, heart or the liver.