ION SHIFT IN EXPERIMENTAL HYPERTENSION

Abstract

The influence of different types of experimental hypertension in rabbits upon the sodium and potassium ion level in the thoracic aorta, in erythrocytes and in the blood plasma was followed up.
In metacorticoid hypertension after DCA+NaCl there was a potassium fall in the plasma and in erythrocytes; the plasma sodium increased and in the aorta both ions rose.
After prolonged ephedrine administration sodium rose in the plasma and potassium rose in erythrocytes; the potassium content of the aorta slightly decreased.
In renal hypertension sodium slightly increased in the aorta and in the blood plasma, whereas the potassium content of erythrocytes slightly decreased.
After long-term NaCl administration sodium rose only in the plasma, whereas potassium decreased in both the plasma and erythrocytes. The prolonged KCl administration produced a rise of potassium in the aorta and also in erythrocytes, whereas the plasma sodium was found slightly increased.