RESPONSE TO MERCURIAL DIURETICS DURING ALKALOSIS: A COMPARISON OF ACUTE METABOLIC AND CHRONIC HYPOKALEMIC ALKALOSIS IN THE DOG 1

Abstract

A relationship between the action of mercurial diuretics and acid-base metabolism has been established for many years. Diuresis may be augmented by the administration of acidifying salts such as ammonium chloride (1), and may be decreased or even totally inhibited by alkalinizing agents (2, 3). Although a variety of clinical and experimental studies suggest that the mercurials act by decreasing the tubular reabsorption of the chloride ion (37), it is not clear exactly why this action of the drug is so susceptible to changes in acid-base balance.