Date of Award

5-1959

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Medical

First Advisor

Andrew A. Pandazi

Second Advisor

Alvin F. Rieck

Third Advisor

William J. Stekiel

Abstract

Within the past decade considerable clinical and experimental work has been done concerning the physiological importance ow water and electrolyte distribution. There is little doubt at the present time that Na, K, Mg, Ca, and Cl exercise fundamental roles in maintaining the integrity of cellular function. An interesting characteristic of most mammalian cells is their ability to maintain high K and low Na concentrations in the presence of an environment containing large amount of Na and small amounts of K. Most investigators agree that the basis for this phenomenon is related to an active metabolic process. Conway (25, 26), a leader in this area, has implicated a cytochrome-like system, not only as the "active carrier", but also as the "energy source" in the cellular extrusion of the Na ion. In view of the basic physiological importance of these considerations, it would appear valuable to study water and electrolyte distribution while manipulating tissue metabolism experimentally. Ablation of the thyroid gland offers a controlled method of lowering tissue metabolism. The the author's knowledge, there is little or no tissue electrolyte data in this area. Therefore, the present study was undertaken with the following objectives: (1) to delineate quantitative alterations in tissue water, Na, K, and Mg following thyroidectomy; (2) to develop a better understanding of the physiological basis of Na and K distribution between cells and their immediate environment.

Although the term thyroidectomy will be used throughout this paper, it should be emphasized that the operative procedure employed was a thyroparathyroidectomy. The justification for this terminology rests in the author's interest and conceptual thinking in hypometabolism as an experimental variable. In addition, the animals used in this investigation were maintained on Ca water as compensation for the development of possible hypoparathyroidism. It must, however, be kept in mind that thyroidectomy implies thyroparathyroidectomy. The burden of proof rests in further and more explicitly designed research.

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