Water mineral metabolism in muscles and tissues of rabbits under hypokinesia

It has been suggested that hypokinesia (diminished muscular activity) induces substantial changes in fluid-electrolyte metabolism in different organs and systems of animals and human organisms. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine water-mineral metabolism on 98 male rabbits weighing 2.4-3 kg under a 90-days' exposure to hypokinesia (HK). They were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group of rabbits was subjected to pure HK, that is, without the use of any preventive measures, and the control group was placed under ordinary vivarium conditions. For the simulation of the hypokinetic effect, the rabbits were kept in small individual cages made of plexiglass, which restricted their movements in all directions without hindering feed and water intake. Potassium, calcium and sodium contents of plasma and erythrocytes were estimated and the dynamics of changes in water-mineral metabolism and nature of fluid-electrolyte redistribution in the body of rabbits were analysed. At the initial stages of HK signs of plasma liquefaction were manifested, accompanied by a reduction in the hematocritic index and hemoglobin concentration. During the initial period of HK, plasma volume increased by 5.9%. By the 31st day of HK, a marked fluid-electrolyte redistribution developed between plasma and red blood cells. The concentration of potassium, and sodium, and especially that of calcium decreased considerably as the duration of HK increased. The pattern of disturbances in the plasma calcium concentration was correlated with the variations in total blood serum protein. The changes in the total protein content of blood serum were manifested in a wave-like form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)