The effect of the anions, phosphate and sulphate, on normal rates of excretion of potassium in dogs.

Small doses of (NH4)2HPO4 or KH2PO4 by stomach tube caused increase in plasma PO4 and PO4 excretion. Above a threshold of 0-8 mmol. 1(-1), increase of plasma PO4 by 0-5 mmol. 1(-1) caused PO4 excretion to increase by about 35 mumol. min.-1 After KH2PO4 this relationship was not altered by the concurrent increases in plasma K and K excretion. After doses of (NH4)2SO4 or K2SO4, excretion of SO4 was similarly related to plasma SO4 and was independent of plasma K and K excretion. An effect of PO4 on K excretion was observed after doses of (NH4)2HPO4, when increased excretion of PO4 was accompanied by increased excretion of K without change in plasma K. There was also increased excretion of NH4 and a small increase in Na excretion. The changes were similar to those produced by (NH4)2SO4 O'Connor and Summerill, 1976]. KH2PO4 and K2SO4 produced increase in plasma K and increased excretion of K not significantly different from the changes produced by KCl or KHCO3 Baylis and O'Connor, 1976]. After KH2PO2 or K2SO4, the urinary anion was PO4 or SO4, instead of Cl and HCO3. Any effect of anions on K excretion was much less than the effect of increase in plasma K. At low rates of excretion of K, increased urinary excretion of impermeant anion can determine increased excretion of K. However, the effect of anion is small in comparison with the effect of increase in plasma K.