Influence of epinephrine and propranolol on transmembrane K transfer in anuric dogs with hyperkalemia

In anuric dogs K loaded by infusion of 2 mEq of KCl per kg per hr the quantity of K transferred to intracellular fluid in ureter-ligated animals is considerably less than in nephrectomized ones; the combination of ureter ligation and hyperkalemia seems to suppress transmembrane K transfer. In the present investigation we found that treatment of K loaded ureter-ligated dogs with epinephrine markedly increased the animals' ability to transfer K to intracellular fluid, and that administration of propranolol (with and without epinephrine) reduced K transfer capacity below the control level. Further, we found that propranolol treatment of K-loaded nephrectomized dogs produced a striking diminution of K transfer ability. The data suggest that beta adrenergic receptors are importantly involved in the transmembrane K transfer of K-loaded anuric dogs, and that ureter ligation and hyperkalemia suppress K transfer capacity by blocking beta receptors.