Electrolyte content in organs and tissues of rats during and after hypokinesia

It has been demonstrated that hypokinesia (diminished muscular activity) leads to marked metabolic electrolyte changes in animals and men. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the potassium and sodium distribution in organs and tissues under 90-days' hypokinesia (HK) and during the readaptation period (RP) of 15 days, in 96 male rats. The 1st group of rats was examined on the 30th, 60th and 90th days of HK, the 2nd group on the 5th, 10th and 15th days of the RP, and the 3rd was placed under ordinary vivarium conditions and served as control. Potassium and sodium levels were measured in blood plasma, erythrocytes, myocardium and the femoral extensor muscle. Fluid amounts were calculated for the myocardium and skeletal muscles. The potassium concentration in the examined parameters decreased under HK and increased during the initial stages of the RP. An appreciable change in sodium levels was demonstrated after the 60th day of HK. It was concluded that the electrolyte content of the examined substances revealed marked changes during and after the exposure to diminished muscular activity conditions.