[Renal excretion of urea and electrolytes in sheep after extracellular fluid expansion with an isotonic solution of sodium chloride].

Sheep of the Merino breed, given 10.11 g nitrogen daily (after Czechoslovak Standard CSN 46 7007) were studied for the effect of the expansion of the extracellular fluid (ECF) by an infusion of an isotonic solution of NaCl (at a rate of 5% of live weight), as exerted on the renal excretion of urea and on the sodium and potassium electrolytes. The high natriuresis, induced by the expansion of ECF, resulted in a statistically significant increase in the clearance of urea, free water, and solutions, and in higher diuresis. An increase was observed in the excretion of urea with urine (UureaV; P < 0.005) and in the excretion of the studied electrolytes of sodium (UNaV; P < 0.001) and potassium (UKV; P < 0.005) by the same route. No variation was recorded in the clearance of inulin as a measure of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The fractional excretion of urea, sodium, and potassium also showed a significant increase. The results imply that the fractional excretion of urea increases under the conditions of artificially induced natriuresis.