Effects of epinephrine on plasma potassium; their relations with the liver
Saito, Y.; Hayashida, Y.; Goto, T.; Otsu, T.; Morioka, T.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 34(4): 458-462
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 4021092 Document Number: 242565
To examine the role of the liver in the change of plasma K caused by epinephrine, K and blood glucose in artery, hepatic vein and portal vein were measured before and after a 3-min infusion of 2 .mu.g/kg min-1 of epinephrine in anesthetized and splenectomized dogs. Plasma K in all the vessels showed a similar pattern of change after the epinephine infusion, that was a transient increase followed by a prolonged decrease for .apprx. 20 min. But the increase in the hepatic venous K appeared earlier and its peak was higher than that of the 2 other samples. The increase in the portal venous K appeared later and its peak was lower. During the reduction phase, K in the portal vein was higher than the others. Epinephrine causes the K release from the liver during the early hyperkalemia, while a small amount of K seems to be taken in by the gut. During the following hypokalemia, the K seems to be taken in partly by the liver and partly by some other organs, while a small amount of K seems to be released from the gut.