THE DISTRIBUTION OF BODY WATER IN SKELETAL MUSCLE AND LIVER IN NORMAL DOGS FOLLOWING INJECTIONS OF POTASSIUM SALTS

This investigation of the changes in water and electrolyte distribution in skeletal muscle following an experimental increase in body potassium and total body water is a continuation of previous studies. Data will be presented on the volumes of extracellular and intracellular phases of skeletal muscle of normal dogs, both before and after increases in potassium and total body water produced by the intravenous injection of an isotonic solution containing potassium. These findings will be compared statistically with those obtained both previous to and following the intravenous injection of an isotonic solution of sodium chloride on normal animals serving as controls. In addition, there will be included analyses of liver from a group of normal animals, both before and after the injection of the potassium salts. These data will be compared with those for the skeletal muscle for the purpose of determining whether injected potassium is concentrated in certain tissue cells. These findings will add more experimental evidence to the tentative conclusions of Fenn (1) that the liver has some special ability to absorb injected potassium.