Measurement of extracellular fluid volume in nephrectomized dogs

Visualizing dopamine transporter integrity with iodine-123-FP-CIT SPECT in combination with high resolution MRI in the brain of the common marmoset monkey

Considerable progress has been made in small animal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging in the field of Parkinson's disease. In preclinical research, there is an increasing demand for in vivo imaging techniques to apply to animal models. Here, we report the first protocol for dopamine transporter (DAT) SPECT in common marmosets using the radioligand ¹²³I-N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-{4-iodophenyl}nortropane (¹²³I-FP-CIT). Serial SPECT images were obtained on an upgraded clinical scanner to determine the distribution kinetics of ¹²³I-FP-CIT in the marmoset brain. After intravenous injection of approximately 60 MBq of the radiotracer ¹²³I-FP-CIT, stable and specific striatal uptake was observed for at least 4h. Analysis of plasma samples showed rapid disappearance of the radiotracer from blood plasma within a few minutes after application, with activity declining to 4.1% of the administered activity. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 400 μm resolution provided the details of the underlying anatomy. In a marmoset model of Parkinson's disease, which was generated by unilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the nigro-striatal projection pathway, complete loss of striatal DAT binding in combination with behavioral deficits was observed. The presented study demonstrates that ¹²³I-FP-CIT SPECT is a suitable tool to investigate DAT integrity in preclinical studies on common marmosets.

Body fluid dynamics: back to the future

Pioneering investigations conducted over a half century ago on tonicity, transcapillary fluid exchange, and the distribution of water and solute serve as a foundation for understanding the physiology of body fluid spaces. With passage of time, however, some of these concepts have lost their connectivity to more contemporary information. Here we examine the physical forces determining the compartmentalization of body fluid and its movement across capillary and cell membrane barriers, drawing particular attention to the interstitium operating as a dynamic interface for water and solute distribution rather than as a static reservoir. Newer work now supports an evolving model of body fluid dynamics that integrates exchangeable Na(+) stores and transcapillary dynamics with advances in interstitial matrix biology.

Are large amounts of sodium stored in an osmotically inactive form during sodium retention? Balance studies in freely moving dogs

Alterations in total body sodium (TBSodium) that covered the range from moderate deficit to large surplus were induced by 10 experimental protocols in 66 dogs to study whether large amounts of Na+ are stored in an osmotically inactive form during Na+ retention. Changes in TBSodium, total body potassium (TBPotassium), and total body water (TBWater) were determined by 4-day balance studies. A rather close correlation was found between individual changes in TBSodium and those in TBWater (r2 = 0.83). Changes in TBSodium were often accompanied by changes in TBPotassium. Taking changes of both TBSodium and TBPotassium into account, the correlation with TBWater changes became very close (r2 = 0.93). The sum of changes in TBSodium and TBPotassium was accompanied by osmotically adequate TBWater changes, and plasma osmolality remained unchanged. Calculations reveal that even moderate TBSodium changes often included substantial Na+/K+ exchanges between extracellular and cellular space. The results support the theory that osmocontrol effectively adjusts TBWater to the body's present content of the major cations, Na+ and K+, and do not support the notion that, during Na+ retention, large portions of Na+ are stored in an osmotically inactive form. Furthermore, the finding that TBSodium changes are often accompanied by TBPotassium changes and also include Na+/K+ redistributions between fluid compartments suggests that cells may serve as readily available Na+ store. This Na+ storage, however, is osmotically active, since osmotical equilibration is achieved by opposite redistribution of K+.

Treatment of acute hyponatremia: ensuring the excretion of a predictable amount of electrolyte-free water

BACKGROUND

Hypertonic saline is the recommended therapy to shrink swollen brain cells in patients with acute hyponatremia accompanied by seizures.

OBJECTIVES

In the absence of hypertonic saline, hypertonic mannitol will shrink the cell volume. Because mannitol is excreted rapidly, our aim was to ensure that it would be excreted with electrolyte-free water (EFW) and to evaluate the renal mechanisms responsible for EFW excretion.

DESIGN

A randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled study in rats was carried out in a research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Adult male Wistar rats.

INTERVENTIONS

The control group of rats (n = 6) was administered hypotonic saline, a loop diuretic, vasopressin, and glucose by the intraperitoneal route; in the experimental group (n = 6), glucose was replaced with mannitol. Plasma electrolytes were measured at 0 and 210 mins, and balances for water, sodium, and potassium were obtained from 0 to 90 mins and from 90 to 210 mins.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Virtually 100% of the administered mannitol was excreted within 210 mins, and half was excreted in the first 90 mins. The urine contained EFW only in the mannitol group because of a larger volume in the first 90 mins (EFW, 3.7 mL) and to a lower excretion of NaCl in the next 120 mins (EFW, 3.5 mL).

CONCLUSIONS

The combined use of mannitol and a loop diuretic caused the excretion of a predictable volume of EFW because the urine was iso-osmotic to plasma and contained all the administered mannitol. The calculated decrease in intracellular fluid volume was equivalent when mannitol was retained or excreted.

Extracellular volume and blood volume in chronically catheterized fetal sheep

1. To determine the extracellular volume (ECV) in fetal sheep and its distribution between the plasma and interstitial spaces, ECV, blood volume (BV) and haematocrit were measured in ten chronically catheterized fetal sheep aged 121-133 days. Relationships with age, weight and other fetal variables, including glomerular filtration rate (GFR), were studied. 2. ECV was measured as the mean of the volumes of distribution of [3H]inulin and [14C]mannitol extrapolated to time zero. The time zero volume of distribution was 1506 +/- 79 ml (means +/- S.E.M.) for inulin and 1590 +/- 80 ml for mannitol. The ECV was 1548 +/- 79 ml (632 +/- 18 ml (kg fetal wt)-1). BV, measured using 51Cr-labelled red cells, was 351 +/- 27 ml (141 +/- 6 ml kg-1). Haematocrit, plasma volume and interstitial volume were 34 +/- 1%, 229 +/- 17 ml (92 +/- 3 ml kg-1) and 1319 +/- 63 ml (540 +/- 17 ml kg-1), respectively. 3. Interstitial volume per kilogram fell with increasing fetal weight (P = 0.026). BV per kilogram did not change with weight or age. 4. The plasma: interstitial volume ratio was 0.17 +/- 0.01. This ratio increased as fetal weight and age increased (P = 0.026 and P = 0.044), that is, the proportion of ECV that was contained outside the vascular compartment was lower in heavier or older fetuses. 5. Since GFR was 3.4 +/- 0.4 ml min-1, the entire fetal ECV was filtered by the fetal kidney only 3.1 +/- 0.3 times per day.

Chloride-depletion metabolic alkalosis induces ECF volume depletion via internal fluid shifts in nephrectomized dogs

We recently reported that chloride-depletion metabolic alkalosis (CDMA) results in renal losses of Na, K, and water. In these studies we investigated whether CDMA (induced using a new model that avoids external changes in Na and water balance) was also associated with internal Na and water shifts out of the ECF. CDMA was induced using haemofiltration in functionally nephrectomized dogs. Plasma ultrafiltrate was substituted quantitatively with a solution duplicating each dog's plasma electrolyte composition in control animals, and with a solution containing HCO3 as the sole anion in CDMA animals. ECF volume was estimated as the space of distribution of [3H]-mannitol. Plasma composition and [3H]-mannitol distribution space were unchanged in control dogs. In CDMA dogs metabolic alkalosis developed; despite the absence of external changes in Na and water balance, the space of distribution of [3H]-mannitol decreased by 335 +/- 46 ml (equivalent to 8% of baseline ECF volume), calculated chloride space fell by 304 +/- 50 ml, and haematocrit increased from 45.6 to 48.5 vol%. We conclude that CDMA causes an internal shift of fluid out of the ECF. The resulting ECF volume contraction appears to be an inherent feature of CDMA.

Non-radioisotopic estimate of extracellular volume during isotonic expansion in anuric dogs

In six anuric dogs infused in two steps with isonatremic (= having the same sodium concentration as each dog's initial extracellular space) sodium chloride solutions, stable chloride space was computed by mass conservation and was compared to radiosulphate space. There was close agreement between estimates of preinfusion extracellular volume by radiosulphate and stable chloride spaces. Computed increases in radiosulphate and stable chloride spaces agreed with the infused volumes in each step.

Sulphate excretion by dogs following ingestion of ammonium sulphate or meat

1. When normal conscious dogs were given small doses of (NH4)2SO4 by stomach tube, the rate of excretion of SO4 increased due to increase in plasma SO4 without change in creatinine clearance. After eating meat, increased SO4 excretion was due to increase in glomerular filtration rate without change in plasma SO4. 2. The calculated rate of tubular reabsorption of SO4 did not change significantly either after (NH4)2SO4 or after meat. 3. The rate of production of SO4 after meat was estimated. In 4 hr approximately one fifth of the S in meat was converted to inorganic SO4; in the same time approximately one third of the N in the meat was converted into urea. 4. Half of the SO4 in the doses of (NH4)2SO4 was absorbed from the gut; all of the NH was converted into urea. (NH4)2SO4 thus produced acidosis. 5. After (NH4)2SO4, increased excretion of NH4+ accompanied the increased excretion of SO4-but Na+, K+ in urine also increased.

Determination of extracellular fluid volume in the dog with ferrocyanide

The suitability of ferocyanide as an indicator for the measurement of extracellular fluid volume was tested. Added ferrocyanide could be recovered completely from urine, plasma and blood. In in vitro experiments ferrocyanide did not penetrate into erythrocytes, nor did it adhere to the red cell membrane. In gel filtration and electrophoresis experiments binding of ferrocyanide to plasma proteins could not be demonstrated. In in vivo experiments on dogs, the urinary recovery of intravenously administered ferrocyanide was 98.9 +/- 2.1% (n = 14). The partition ratio of ferrocyanide between lymph water and plasma water was 0.99 +/- 0.02 (n = 20). Ferrocyanide could not be detected in cerebrospinal fluid or red cells of dogs after administration by intravenous infusion. No untoward effects of the infused ferrocyanide were observed during or after the experiments. In nephrectomized dogs ferrocyanide reached its ultimate distribution volume 2 hrs after intravenous administration of a single dose and remained constant for up to 10 hrs. The average distribution volume was 224 +/- 17 ml-kg-1 body mass (n = 6). In intact dogs continuously infused with indicator, ferrocyanide also reached its ultimate distribution volume in 2 hrs and remained constant thereafter for up to 7 hrs after the start of the infusion. The average distribution volume was 237 +/- 27 ml-kg-1 body mass (n = 14). It is concluded that ferrocyanide fulfils the requirements to be met by an indicator for the measurement of the extracellular volume, and is well suited for repeated determinations of the extracellular fluid volume in one and the same experiment.

SERIAL DETERMINATIONS OF EXTRACELLULAR FLUID VOLUME USING THE RADIOSULPHATE SPACE METHOD

The fate of injected and ingested radiosulphate was investigated. The appearance of radiosulphate in bile was shown to be very rapid. Ingested radiosulphate was rapidly and completely absorbed, peak blood levels occurring at 1 to 2 hours.The sulphate space method of measuring extracellular fluid volume was studied and a method adopted requiring two serum samples taken at 1/2 and 6 hours following injection. This procedure provided a convenient means of making independent observations of extracellular fluid volume as often as four times a day in individual subjects. When values for the sulphate space were compared in the same individuals under conditions similar with respect to diet, activity, and time of day, the coefficient of variation was calculated to be ± 5.7% or about ± 1% of body weight. Values among well-nourished subjects with no known abnormalities of water or electrolyte balance gave a mean of 17.5% body weight with a range of 13.5 to 22% body weight. Values among obese subjects averaged 12.8% body weight.Studies of the diurnal variation of the sulphate space made every 6 hours throughout the day suggested that in man, under conditions of uniform intake and normal activity, there is a diurnal variation of extracellular fluid volume, higher values occurring at night.

The distribution of sodium and chloride and the extracellular fluid volume in the rat

Images