SPECULATIONS ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL FLUID PROPERTIES IN PHYSIOLOGICAL REGULATION,
Abstract
An examination of the proposition that certain physicochemical properties of biological fluids contribute to maintaining the steady-state concentration gradients that occur in physiological systems. Simple electrostatic solution theory is used to demonstrate that differences in ionic strength and dielectric constants of fluids separated by simple membranes can produce large concentration gradients for uncharged organic substances between the fluids. The magnitude of the gradients, and whether they are greater or less than one, depends on the electrostatic characteristics of the fluids and on the size and signs of the dielectric increment of the substances. Hormones are among the most potent chemicals that affect the distribution of substances between body compartments. With antidiuretic hormone as an example, computations are made that show that this hormone can alter the dielectric constant of plasma so as to change the activity of water from that of diuretic urine to that of concentrated urine in the hydropenic static. This protein-interactive, bulk fluid mode of hormonal influence is suggested as a basis for explaining certain presently unexplained hormonal actions and interactions. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0677590
Entities
People
- J. C. Dehaven
- N. Z. Shapiro
Organizations
- RAND Corporation