EXPERIMENTAL ASCITES. STUDIES OF ELECTROLYTE BALANCE IN DOGS WITH PARTIAL AND COMPLETE OCCLUSION OF THE PORTAL VEIN AND OF THE VENA CAVA ABOVE AND BELOW THE LIVER

Abstract

Previous studies (1-6) of experimental ascites primarily concerned with protein metabolism and exchange have emphasized the importance of so- dium in ascitic fluid production. Recently, the importance of sodium retention in several forms of effusions and edema has been described by nu- merous observers (7-15) who have all directly or indirectly implicated the kidney in the causal re- lationships of this abnormality of sodium' metabo- lism. This report concerns sodium, potassium, and chloride balance studies in dogs with experimentally produced ascites. Following the administra- tion of large amounts of sodium, these ascitic ani- mals, in contrast to the normal dog, do not ex- crete the excess sodium in their urine. Whereas normally in the dog there is a slightly delayed ex- cretion of sodium with temporary retention of so- dium in extracellular and intracellular spaces, these ascitic animals produce predictable amounts of ascites following an increased salt load. Potas- sium is promptly excreted by the kidneys and chloride is retained only when there is sodium re- tention. The ascites of these animals seems to resemble in some ways that of the human cirrhotic and the patient with right sided heart fail- ure or chronic constrictive pericarditis. The liver seems implicated in this abnormality of sodium metabolism.