BODY FLUIDS AND BLOOD ELECTROLYTES IN DOGS SUBJECTED TO CHRONIC ETHANOL ADMINISTRATION

¹ Clinical Physiology Laboratories, Institute of Clinical Investigation, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee

Plasma and red blood cell electrolytes and body fluid volumes were measured on anesthetized dogs prior to the administration of water or ethanol and thereafter on a weekly basis 24 hours after their administration. Ethanol was given daily via gastric tube to apparently healthy dogs in doses ranging from 2 to 4 g/kg body weight in a 33% solution (v/v) for a period of 8 weeks. Control animals were given 12 g/kg body weight of water daily for an equal period of time. In these animals, there were essentially no changes found in any of the measurements. In ethanol-treated animals, the total body water, extracellular volume and plasma volume were increased, as indicated by the distribution volume of antipyrine, sodium thiocyanate and T-1824, respectively. The centrations of plasma and erythrocyte sodium, potassium and chloride were essentially unchanged despite a significant increase in the plasma volume. Over the experimental period there appeared to be a retention of water, sodium, potassium and chloride, particularly in the animals receiving the higher doses of ethanol. Calculation of the blood volume revealed that it was maintained very constant in face of the increased plasma volume and reduced red cell mass. The data indicate that alcohol in the doses employed is capable of producing marked fluid alterations and electrolyte retention in the dog.