[Concentration of water, sodium, and potassium in the tissues of rats with circulatory insufficiency caused by constriction of the thoracic portion of the inferior vena cava].

In edematous rats with circulatory insufficiency, the content of water and sodium in the muscle and liver rises while that of potassium declines per 1 g wet weight. The increased sodium and decreased potassium content in the tissues cannot be accounted for only by enlargement of the extracellular volume. In contrast to normal rats, the edematous ones show a negative linear correlation between the content of sodium and potassium in the muscle and liver. The total content of sodium and potassium in the tissues increases. It is assumed that part of intracellular potassium in the test tissues of rats with circulatory insufficiency is replaced by sodium. The proportion of sodium bound to structural components of the cell increases.