Defective natriuresis contributes to hyperkalemia in db/db mice during potassium supplementation

Potassium supplementation reduces blood pressure and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, with K + -induced natriuresis playing a potential key role in this process. However, whether these beneficial effects occur in diabetes remains unknown.

In this study, we examined the impact of high-K + intake on renal Na + /K + transport by determining the expression of major apical Na + transporters, diuretics responses (as a proxy for specific Na + transporter function), urinary Na + /K + excretion, and plasma Na + /K + concentrations in db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Although db/m mice exhibited increased fractional excretion of sodium (FE Na ) and fractional excretion of potassium (FE K ) under high-K + intake, these responses were largely blunted in db/db mice, suggesting impaired K + -induced natriuresis and kaliuresis in diabetes. Consequently, high-K + intake increased plasma K + levels in db/db mice, which could be attributed to the abnormal activity of sodium-hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3), sodium-chloride cotransporter (NCC), and epithelial Na + channel (ENaC), as high-K + intake could not effectively decrease NHE3 and NCC and increase ENaC expression and activity in the diabetic group. Inhibition of NCC by hydrochlorothiazide could correct the hyperkalemia in db/db mice fed a high-K + diet, indicating a key role for NCC in K + -loaded diabetic mice. Treatment with metformin enhanced urinary Na + /K + excretion and normalized plasma K + levels in db/db mice with a high-K + diet, at least partially, by suppressing NCC activity.

Collectively, the impaired K + -induced natriuresis in diabetic mice under high-K + intake may be primarily attributed to impaired NCC-mediated renal K + excretion, despite the role of NHE3.