Tissue electrolytes in the rabbit following chronic dietary potassium depletion

Tissue electrolytes were estimated in rabbits following chronic dietary K+ depletion, and after a week of subsequent K+ repletion. The heart, liver and brain all exhibited protection against K+ loss following K+ depletion, whereas skeletal muscle did not. Both Na+ and total magnesium were elevated in quadriceps, but not in other tissues. After 1 week of K+ repletion the heart and liver both showed a significant overshoot in tissue K+, but no change in total magnesium. It is suggested that the liver may have a similar adaptation to depletion as that reported for the heart (Ward & Cameron, 1984).