The renal lesions of electrolyte imbalance. I. The structural alterations in potassium-depleted rats

Renal tubular lesions during the early phases of progressive potassium depletion in rats were found in nephrons isolated by microdissection in two locations, the collecting tubules and the proximal convolutions. All other portions of the nephron, in particular the "distal tubule," i.e. ascending limbs of Henle's loop and distal convolutions, showed no structural alterations except the passive effects of dilatation and cellular compression which developed as a result of primary disturbances lower in the tubular system. The alterations affected all the collecting tubules uniformly and took two forms; the more severe, a swelling and hyperplasia of the tubular epithelium and the lesser, an intracellular accumulation of granule droplets. The former was limited to the outer zone of the medulla, the latter to its inner zone. In the proximal convolution the structural alteration began in its middle third and extended downward towards the medulla; only occasional nephrons were affected. The essential nature of the more severe epithelial lesion was similar in both collecting tubule and proximal convolution, beginning as a swelling of cell bodies, increasing to protoplasmic disturbances with disintegration of the mitochondrial pattern, followed by rupture of cells and nuclear disappearance. These retrogressive alterations were followed by prolific regenerative hyperplasia. In the collecting tubules of the outer zone these epithelial alterations were present in both the clear and the intercalcated cells; in the latter the swelling of the cells was not prominent, but the hyperplastic proliferative increase in their number was the predominating feature of the lesion when the dissected tubules were viewed intact in the continuity of their topographical relations. The cellular alterations in the tubules are associated with an inability to concentrate the urine; reasons are given for considering this functional disturbance a correlate of the structural lesion in the collecting tubules.

Morphologic alterations in the rat medullary collecting duct following potassium depletion

Freeze-fracture and thin-section electron microscopy and morphometry were used to characterize further the response of the rat medullary collecting duct to potassium depletion. In freeze-fracture replicas, principal cells and intercalated cells were identified based on the assumption that intercalated cells possess a high density of rod-shaped intramembrane particles in their luminal membranes. Potassium depletion caused an increase in the relative number of cells with a high density of rod-shaped particles from the control level of 22% to 31% after 2 weeks and to 36% after 4 weeks. The frequency of intercalated cells identified by thin-section criteria was, however, about 35% in controls and unchanged by potassium depletion. This suggests that intercalated cells can have two types of membrane morphology. In potassium depletion, all intercalated cells display a high density of rod-shaped particles in their luminal membranes. In addition, the luminal membrane area of intercalated cells increased more than threefold, and the density of their rod-shaped particles increased by 21%. These observations suggest that the intercalated cell and its rod-shaped particle may be involved with the potassium reabsorption that occurs in this nephron segment with potassium depletion.

Molecular mechanisms involved in plant adaptation to low K(+) availability

Potassium is a major inorganic constituent of the living cell and the most abundant cation in the cytosol. It plays a role in various functions at the cell level, such as electrical neutralization of anionic charges, protein synthesis, long- and short-term control of membrane polarization, and regulation of the osmotic potential. Through the latter function, K(+) is involved at the whole-plant level in osmotically driven functions such as cell movements, regulation of stomatal aperture, or phloem transport. Thus, plant growth and development require that large amounts of K(+) are taken up from the soil and translocated to the various organs. In most ecosystems, however, soil K(+) availability is low and fluctuating, so plants have developed strategies to take up K(+) more efficiently and preserve vital functions and growth when K(+) availability is becoming limited. These strategies include increased capacity for high-affinity K(+) uptake from the soil, K(+) redistribution between the cytosolic and vacuolar pools, ensuring cytosolic homeostasis, and modification of root system development and architecture. Our knowledge about the mechanisms and signalling cascades involved in these different adaptive responses has been rapidly growing during the last decade, revealing a highly complex network of interacting processes. This review is focused on the different physiological responses induced by K(+) deprivation, their underlying molecular events, and the present knowledge and hypotheses regarding the mechanisms responsible for K(+) sensing and signalling.

Contribution of an electrogenic sodium pump to membrane potential in mammalian skeletal muscle fibres

1. Relationship between the resting membrane potential and the changes in the intraceullar Na and K concentrations ([Na]i and [K]i) was studied in 'Na-loaded' and K-depleted' soleus (SOL) muscles of rats which had fed a K-free diet for 40 and more days. 2. The extracellular space of the muscles was not significantly different between normal and K-deficient rats. The inulin space in both the 'fresh' and Na-rich' muscles can be determined by the same function relating the space to the muscle weight. 3. Presence of 2-5-15 mM-K in the recovery solution hyperpolarized the 'Na-rich' muscul fibres at the beginning of recovery. The hyperpolarized membrane potential exceeded, beyond the measured potential of 'fresh' muscle fibres, the theoretical potential derived from the ionic theory, or even beyond Ek. Then, the measured membrane potential declined progressively during the immersion in a recovery solution and returned to the steady-state value When a considerable Na extrusion and K uptake took place, the measured membrane potential became equal to Ek. 4.he maximal hyperpolarization occurring immediately after immersion in the recovery solution became smaller and had a shorter duration when increasing the external K concentration ([K]o) from 2-5 to 15mM. 5. The K-sensitive hyperpolarization was completely abolished on exposure to 0mM [K]o, on cooling to ca. 4 degrees C, and in the presence of oubain (10(-4) M). The inhibitory effects were reversed on returning to the control conditions. The membrane potential obtained after inhibition of the electrogenic Na-pump with cooling or ouabain agrees well with that predicted by the 'constant-field' equation. 7. The external Cl ions had a short-circuiting effect on the electrogenic Na-pumping activated on adding K ions. 8. The replacement of Na ions in a recovery solution with Li ions resulted in a faster rate of depolarization from the maximal hyperpolarizationp. It is concluded that the resting membrane potential of 'Na-loaded' and 'K-depleted' SOL muscle fibres is the sum of an ionic diffusion potential predicted by either the Nernst equation or the constant-field equation and of the potential produced by an electrogenic Na-pump.

The ameliorative effect of silicon on soybean seedlings grown in potassium-deficient medium

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Crop yield and nutritional quality are significantly reduced when potassium (K) in soil is deficient. As a beneficial element for plants, silicon (Si) is effective in alleviating the toxic effects of mineral nutrients. However, the roles played by Si in mediating deficiency in essential mineral nutrients in general and K in particular have not been investigated.

METHODS

To evaluate the role of Si in K deficiency-induced inhibition of growth of soybean (Glycine max) seedlings, the effects of K deficiency on shoot and root growth, hydrogen peroxide accumulation, K contents, lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the absence and presence of 2 mM sodium silicate (Na(2)SiO(3)) were investigated.

KEY RESULTS

Both shoot and root biomass of soybean seedlings were markedly reduced when grown in K-deficient medium (1 mM K) compared with those grown in K-sufficient medium (5 mM). Addition of Na(2)SiO(3) significantly ameliorated the K deficiency-induced reductions in shoot and root growth. Sodium silicate enhanced K concentrations in leaf, stem and root of K-deficient seedlings by 105.4, 83.4 and 58.8 %, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in soybean seedlings were increased by 25 and 97 %, respectively, when exposed to K-deficient medium. These increases in accumulation of H(2)O(2) and MDA were removed by addition of Na(2)SiO(3). Addition of Na(2)SiO(3) reduced the K deficiency-induced increases in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of Si to soybean seedlings grown in K-deficient medium markedly enhanced K use efficiency. Therefore, Si not only increases tolerance to nutrient toxicity, but also ameliorates symptoms associated with deficiency in essential nutrients in plants.

Effect of potassium and calcium deficiency on the monophasic action potential, electrocardiogram and contractility of isolated rabbit hearts

Isolated rabbit hearts were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution deficient in K, Ca or both. Ventricular monophasic action potentials registered with the suction electrode, electrocardiograms and intraventricular pressures were recorded simultaneously for periods up to 20 minutes. Perfusion with K-deficient solutions resulted in a brief initial prolongation of the entire descending limb of the action potential and of the T wave, followed by progressive increase in slope of the initial portion and decrease in slope of the terminal portion of the action potential. During this time the T wave became shorter and a U-wave-like deflection occupying the entire diastole developed. QRS showed progressive prolongation. Finally, A-V conduction disturbances, ectopic beats and ventricular fibrillation developed. The force of contraction increased slightly. Perfusion with Ca-deficient solutions decreased the slope of the initial portion while increasing the slope of the terminal portion of the action potential. This was accompanied by prolongation of the ST- segment and reversal in the direction of the T wave. The duration of the action potential reached a maximum after 40–80 seconds of perfusion, while the force of contraction decreased progessively. Perfusion with solutions without potassium and calcium prolonged the initial as well as terminal portion of the action potential.