Rates of transfer of Rb 86, K 42, K 39, Cl 36, Cl 35, Na 22, and Na 23 across a blister surface on the forearm of normal man and patients with chronic congestive heart failure

Abstract

The base of a cantharides blister on the forearm of man was utilized as a living membrane for the study of kinetics of electrolyte transfer. This preparation provided a readily reproducible and reliable model for such studies. Studies were made of transfer of Na 23, Na 22, Cl 35, Cl 36, K 39, K 42 and Rb 86 both into and out of the experimental extracorporeal compartment. Since the electrolytes and radioisotopes entered and left the extracorporeal compartment by way of capillaries, this model provided an approach to the study of transfer across capillary walls without the limitations of circulation and mixing which interfere with such studies from within the vascular tree. Transcapillary transfer of electrolytes was found to be very rapid. Estimation of the amount of electrolytes crossing the capillaries of man per day revealed enormous amounts: sodium chloride 60,000 lb and potassium 1900 lb at normal seral concentrations.