Serum aldosterone studies in 10 calves living for 2-5 months with a total artificial heart (TAH)

A group of 10 experimental calves that lived for 61-147 days with a TAH was used to study serum aldosterone levels by RIA with ALDOCTK-125 CEA Kit (Sorin Biomedica, Italy). The aldosterone levels were plotted against the serum sodium and potassium, body weight, CVP, urinary sodium and potassium and with hematocrit levels. In these experiments, three types of TAH (TNS-BRNO II, VII, and Rostock) were used. The levels of aldosterone were already high before the surgery and during the entire pumping period, which indicates the development of secondary aldosteronism. The study deals with the mechanisms that participate in the development of aldosteronism in each phase of the experiment with the TAH.