RENAL CLEARANCE OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM IN HYPOTHERMIA

Abstract

The renal tubular handling of Na and K at various hypothermic levels was studied. Fourteen dogs were anesthetized with 30 mg./kg. of sodium pentobarbital. After suitable control clearance measurements, the rectal temperature was lowered progressively by ice-packing to about 25 C. while continuous renal clearance studies were carried out. Artificial respiration was not used. No change in plasma Na was detected but plasma K fell significantly from a control value of 4.1 mEq./liter + or - 0.09 at 38 C. to 3.4 mEq./liter + or - 0.12 at 25 C. Urine Na concentration fell during exposure to cold while K concentration showed a small increase. In spite of the marked fall in glomerular filtration rate (69.0 ml./min. + or - 3.1 control to 17.0 ml./min. + or - 3.6 at 25 C.) the final urine flow at 25 C. was slightly greater than that of the control. The E/F ratios (ratio of excreted to filtered) for Na, K, and H2O increased significantly, reflecting the marked decrease in general tubular reabsorption. The E/F for H2O increased from O.49 + or - 0.05 at 38 C. to 2.02 + or 0.25 at 25 C., the E/F for Na increased from 0.47 + or - 0.12 at 38 C. to 1.13 + or - 0.27 at 25 C., while the E/F for K increased from 18.0 + or - 2.6 at 38 C. to 54.0 + or - 12.0 at 25 C. The variation in effect of hypothermia on the E/F ratios is a reflection of the renal regulations occurring as well as the differing reabsorptive mechanisms. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0257292

Entities

People

  • G.s. Kanter

Organizations

  • United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Respiration
  • Biological Sciences
  • Clearances
  • Filtration
  • Hypothermia
  • Measurement
  • Physiology
  • Potassium
  • Reflection
  • Regulations
  • Respiration

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Materials Science and Engineering.