Renal clearance of sodium and potassium in hypothermia.

Abstract

The handling of sodium and potassium by the renal tubules at various levels of hypothermia was studied. Fourteen dogs were anesthetized with 30 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital. After suitable control clearance measurements, the rectal temperature was lowered progressively by ice-packing to about 25 °C while renal clearances were continuously measured. Artificial respiration was not used. No change in plasma sodium was detected but plasma potassium fell significantly from a control value of 4.1 ± 0.09 meq/1. at 38 °C to 3.4 ± 0.12 meq/1. at 25 °C. Urine sodium concentration fell during exposure to cold while potassium concentration increased slightly. In spite of the marked fall in glomerular nitration rate (69.0 ± 3.1 ml/minute control to 17.0 ± 3.6 ml/minute at 25 °C) the final urine flow at 25 °C was slightly greater than that of control. The clearance ratios (in percentage) increased significantly, reflecting the marked decrease in tubular reabsorption: water, 0.49 ± 0.05 at 38 °C to 2.02 ± 0.25 at 25 °C; s...