Effect of cortisone and ACTH on blood pressure of hypotensive, potassium-deficient rats.

PREVIOUS studies from this laboratory have shown that both intact and hypertensive rats exhibit a gradual but progressive fall in blood pressure when deprived of dietary potassium." Further studies have shown that this depressor response is associated with a loss of body potassium' 5 and a decrease of peripheral vascular reactivity to pressor agents.' 7 The possible involvement of the adrenal cortex in this depressor response suggested itself to us previously, since the potassium-deficient rat exhibits several characteristics in common with the untreated adrenalectomized animal, including subnormal nutritional state, hypotension, decreased peripheral vascular responsiveness, and an intolerance to stress. Moreover, altered adrenocortical structure and function have been observed in potassium-deficient rats." It was therefore deemed important to determine whether or not the depressor response of the potassium-deficient state was related at least in part to consequent alteration of adrenocortical function.