Abstract
In the previous paper it was found that pyridoxine deficient rats exhibited a significantly impaired water metabolism. Since water balance and electrolytes metabolism bear a close relationship, it is of interest to study electrolytes metabolism in this deficiency. This paper presents data on serum, liver, brain, kidney and muscle contents and urinary excretion of sodium and potassium in pyridoxine deficient rats. After administration of NaCl, urinary Na and K excretion in the deficient rats was not different from that in control animals. Pyridoxine deficient rats, when administered with KCl, excreted more Na than controls did. Normal rats when injected with pyridoxal, excreted more Na and K. In the deficient animals there was found a marked elevation of muscle Na and a definite reduction of muscle K, but was without any alterations in Na and K contents in liver, brain, kidney and serum.
