Metabolic alkalosis, a specific effect of adrenocortical hormones

Abstract

With appropriate balance experiments and skeletal muscle analyses, it was shown that: 1) Dogs placed on a potassium-restricted diet lost approximately 15% of their muscle cell potassium but did not develop alkalosis. 2) The administration of DCA, ACTH or cortisone to animals on a potassium-restricted diet evoked metabolic alkalosis which was sustained only as long as the hormones were administered. A prompt return to normal occurred despite continued potassium restriction. 3) Alkalosis induced by chloride withdrawal or by cortisone administration during complete sodium restriction was not associated with evidence of potassium loss. These findings indicate that the increase in the serum bicarbonate induced by the steroids is a relatively direct effect, one that cannot be dependably related in a reciprocal fashion to the associated losses of body potassium.