Description:
<jats:p>Tissue electrolytes were estimated in rabbits following chronic dietary K<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> depletion, and after a week of subsequent K<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> repletion. The heart, liver and brain all exhibited protection against K<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> loss following K<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> depletion, whereas skeletal muscle did not. Both Na<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> and total magnesium were elevated in quadriceps, but not in other tissues. After 1 week of K<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> repletion the heart and liver both showed a significant overshoot in tissue K<jats:sup>+</jats:sup>, but no change in total magnesium. It is suggested that the liver may have a similar adaptation to depletion as that reported for the heart (Ward & Cameron, 1984).</jats:p>