Electrolyte and Water Exchanges in the Estrogen Treated Ovariectomized-Adrenalectomized Rat.∗

SummaryDaily administration of 10, 25, 50 or 100 μg of diethylstilbestrol (DES) to overiectomized-adrenalectomized rats for 7 days significantly reduced the Na+, Cl- and K+ excretions and the urinary Na:K ratio. Pair-feeding (to the 100 μg DES group) also reduced the electrolyte excretions, though significantly less than that of the 100 μg DES treated animals, but did not alter the urinary Na:K ratio which remained normal. Thus, at these dosages, DES can effect a diminished electrolyte excretion in the absence of adrenal cortical tissue and independently of electrolyte intake.The authors express their gratitude to Mrs, S. Muda, Mr. J. Hegmann and Miss J. Moroney for technical assistance.