PRESSOR RESPONSIVENESS FOLLOWING ACUTE ELEVATION OF SODIUM IN THE RAT
In order to test the effects of various ions on pressor responsiveness, groups of adult rats were infused with solutions containing sufficient sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium to elevate the plasma concentration of these ions. The infusions were completed within 5 minutes and in no case was more than 0.5 ml. injected. The test solutions used were sodium acetate, potassium citrate, calcium chloride, and magnesium sulphate. Control solutions of ammonium acetate, ammonium sulphate, sodium chloride, and sucrose were also infused. In no case was the amount of salt infused sufficient to affect the blood pressure during the infusion. The blood pressure response to 1 γ of norepinephrine or to 20 mU. of pitressin was recorded before infusion and again at the end of the infusion. A significant effect was observed only with sodium acetate. This consisted of a profound suppression of the ordinary pressor response to both norepinephrine and pitressin. The effect was not due to the acetate ion and hence may be specifically referable to the high plasma sodium. These results support our previous conclusions that pressor responsiveness and sodium mobility are causally connected.