Sodium balance after adrenal enucleation

Abstract

To better define the relationship between adrenal enucleation (AE), sodium retention and adrenal regeneration hypertension (ARH), we measured daily sodium balance in rats after bilateral adrenal enucleation with (AEN) and without uninephrectomy (AE), and before and after development of ARH, along with the appropriate control groups. We found that both AE and AEN groups retained sodium during 7 days after surgery; AE 1.16 +/- 0.24 and AEN 1.32 +/- 0.33 meq/100 g body wt. Sham-operated, uninephrectomized rats and AE rats treated with spironolactone were in zero sodium balance. In the AEN rats after the development of ARH (BP greater than 150 Torr), zero sodium balance was also noted. Only AEN rats developed hypertension while sham-operated, uninephrectomized rats and AE rats with both kidneys remained normotensive for 28 wk. In summary, we have demonstrated that for 1 wk after AE, rats are in positive sodium balance and this is reversed by spironolactone but not by uninephrectomy.