[Metabolic response and aggression: potassium and water content of skeletal muscles]

The authors present the results of a study of the amount of water and potassium in small samples of skeletal muscle and of the intestinal wall of albino rats. Five groups of 10 animals were separated according to the following conditions: peritonitis, pyloric obstruction, intestinal obstruction, mesenteric ischemia and a control group. The results suggest that skeletal muscle is capable of buffering the increased amount of potassium liberated by the tissues which undergo acute trauma, until a critical concentration is reached. Further studies are needed to clarify some of the conflicting results obtained.