Diminished diuretic and natriuretic response to furosemide in potassium-depleted rats

Renal clearance and tubule microperfusion experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of chronic potassium depletion upon the renal response to furosemide. Rats kept on a potassium-deficient diet for 3 weeks developed hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and decreased aldosterone levels. These rats responded to an oral administration of furosemide (32 mg/kg) with a blunted excretion rate of urine and sodium. Whereas furosemide increased fractional urine sodium excretion to 5.2% in control rats, the corresponding rate in potassium-depleted rats was 2.8%. The urinary excretion of furosemide was also significantly reduced during potassium depletion from 3.06 mg/kg in control rats to 0.97 mg/kg in potassium-depleted rats. In separate experiments, loops of Henle were pump-perfused with furosemide-containing solutions in control and potassium-depleted rats. No major modification of the inhibitory effects of furosemide on sodium transport was observed when the potassium concentration of the perfusion fluid was kept at the low levels expected in hypokalemic rats. Metabolic alkalosis unaccompanied by potassium deprivation did not decrease the diuretic response to furosemide. These experiments indicate that potassium deprivation reduces the diuretic effects of furosemide by mechanisms including diminished furosemide delivery to its tubule site of action.