Metabolic acidosis accompanying potassium deprivation.

BURNELL, JAMES M., ELIZABETH J. TEUBNER, AND DAVID P. SIMPSON. bfetabolic acidosis accompanying potasszum deprivation. Am. J. Physiol. 227(2): 329-333. 1974.-Removal of potassium, with or without substitution of an equivalent amount of sodium, from the diet of dogs causes a prompt and persistent decrease in distal H+ secretion resulting in an increase in urine pH. The sequelae to this change include: I) decreased urine NH& titratable acid, and net H+ excretion. , 2) due to the resulting positive H+ balance, mild metabolic acidosis gradually develops; 3) renal NH3 production increases in response to the acidosis and NHJ+ excretion rises so that H+ balance is again restored; 4) on restoration of K+ to the diet, urine pH promptly falls, NHI+ excretion rises sharply, titratable acid excretion returns to normal, and the metabolic acidosis subsides in a few days.