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The role of aldosterone in extrarenal potassium tolerance: Studies in anephric man. Since the role of aldosterone in mediating extrarenal potassium transport remains uncertain, the effect of mineralocorticoid on potassium metabolism was assessed in anephric patients. Seven anephric patients underwent three identical 72-hour periods between hemodialyses during which treatment with either 10 mg/day deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) intramuscularly or 300 mg/day spironolactone orally was compared to a baseline control period. The serum potassium rise, plasma aldosterone, salivary and stool electrolytes were measured in response to potassium loading over 48 hours with a metabolic diet containing 38 mEq/day followed by an “acute” oral potassium load of 0.5 mEq/kg. Acute potassium loading with DOCA resulted in a lower increment in serum potassium than with spironolactone (P < 0.01). The volume of distribution of the acute potassium load at three hours was 55% of body weight with DOCA, which was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than with either spironolactone (35%) or control (34%). However, with the dietary load of potassium, the increments in serum potassium measured at 24 and 48 hours (13 hours post-prandial) were similar in all three periods. The volume of distribution of the dietary potassium was not altered by DOCA or spironolactone but had risen to an average of 172% at 24 hours and 243% at 48 hours in the three periods. Plasma aldosterone levels were low, positively correlated to the serum potassium and similar in all three periods without evidence of feedback inhibition by DOCA or stimulated by spironolactone. The salivary potassium was high despite low aldosterone levels. Salivary and stool sodium and potassium concentrations were unaltered by DOCA or spironolactone. Stool potassium excretion was approximately 10% of daily intake and consequently failed to serve as a major route for potassium disposal. In conclusion, the rate of removal of an acute oral potassium load from the extracellular fluid is enhanced by a mineralocorticoid, suggesting that aldosterone may be important in mediating acute elevations in serum potassium in anephric man. The administration of a dietary potassium load of comparable size results in a much greater sequestration of potassium outside of the extracellular fluid. This enhanced transfer does not appear to be affected by DOCA or spironolactone as reflected by serum potassium levels measured at 24 and 48 hours. This would suggest that the activity of aldosterone in improving extrarenal potassium tolerance is greatest within the first few hours of potassium administration.