The extrarenal effects of aldosterone on the distribution of extracellular fluid in conscious adrenalectomized-nephrectomized rats.

In order to examine the extrarenal roles of aldosterone in cardiovascular homeostasis, the present study compared blood pressure, extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) and plasma volume (PV) in the three following groups: 10 nephrectomized (NX) rats, 10 nephrectomized-adrenalectomized (NX-AX) rats, and 10 NX-AX and aldosterone-treated (NX-AX-A) rats. Two-hundred and fifty micrograms of aldosterone, mixed with sesame oil, was given subcutaneously in the NX-AX-A rats. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was recorded through previously implanted carotid catheters. ECFV and PV were measured using 35S-Na2SO4 and 131I-RISA, respectively, 24 h after the operation. These measurements were performed in an unanesthetized and unrestricted condition. MAP gradually increased in the NX group, while a gradual decrease was observed in the other groups. However, MAP was significantly higher in the NX-AX-A group than in the NX-AX group 6 h after the operation and thereafter. Changes in body weight were comparable in the three groups 24 h after the operation. ECFV and PV were both reduced in the NX-AX and the NX-AX-A groups as compared to the NX group (P less than 0.001 NX-AX vs NX, and P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.025 NX-AX-A vs NX, respectively). Although ECFV was comparable in the NX-AX and the NX-AX-A groups, PV was significantly greater in the NX-AX-A group than in the NX-AX group (P less than 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between MAP and PV in the rats as a whole (r = 0.68, P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)