Blood Potassium and Suprarenal Glands

The effect of sodium and calcium on the toxicity of potassium in mice

“…and of Marenzi [1938] This was supported by the finding that, when all mice in a group were given the same dose of potassium, irrespective of their body weight, those killed were significantly lighter than the survivors (average weight of dead = 14-583 g., of living = 15-577 g., diff. = 0*994 g., ud.…”

“…In an attempt to repeat their work, we thought it advisable to investigate also the influence of sodium and calcium on potassium tolerance. The beneficial effects of a high intake of sodium chloride in Addison's disease, and in adrenalectomized mammals, suggested that sodium might afford some protection against potassium poisoning, in particular since the work of Zwemer & Truszkowsky [1936], , 1938 and of Marenzi [1938] tends to show that the symptoms of adrenocortical insufficiency may be due to an excess of potassium. Calcium might be expected to have some influence on the toxicity of potassium in vivo, since it appears to be protective against the action of excess potassium on the isolated mammalian heart.…”