Abstract

In the dog, chlormerodrin, meralluride, mersalyl and mercuric chloride in the proper dose ranges induce diuresis by partially blocking the renal tubular reabsorption of salt and water. Quantitative rather than qualitative differences distinguish these four agents. Blockade of reabsorption and onset of diuresis develop more slowly after mercuric chloride than after the organic compounds. Urinary excretion of inorganic mercury is slower than that of organic mercury. However, diuresis cannot be correlated with rate or time course of excretion of mercury in any exact fashion. Mercuric chloride depresses glomerular filtration rate to a greater extent than do the organic compounds, especially at high dose levels. All compounds are rapidly removed from the blood stream and concentrated in the renal cortex. Their degree of concentration in renal tissue, however, does not correlate well with diuretic activity. Differences in behavior of the three organic compounds in the body are as great as those which distinguish any one from mercuric chloride.