Ke. Schober, INVESTIGATION INTO INTRAERYTHROCYTIC AND EXTRAERYTHROCYTIC ACID-BASE AND ELECTROLYTE CHANGES AFTER LONG-TERM AMMONIUM-CHLORIDE ADMINISTRATION IN DOGS, American journal of veterinary research, 57(5), 1996, pp. 743-749
Objectives-To investigate the effect of ammonium chloride-induced urin
e acidification on acid-base status (ABS) of blood, plasma, and erythr
ocytes, and to compare the diagnostic value of acid-base analysis for
erythrocytes with that for blood and plasma. Design-Ammonium chloride
(100 mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally every 12 hours for
8 consecutive days. The ABS was determined daily in venous blood, plas
ma, and lysed, packed erythrocytes (erythrolysate) and in urine. In pl
asma and erythrocytes, concentrations of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K
+) were analyzed. Animals-16 clinically normal (8 treated and 8 contro
l) dogs. Procedure-The acid-base analysis (standard pH, standard bicar
bonate concentration, base excess, and carbon dioxide tension) in bloo
d, plasma, and erythrocytes was determined by use of the CO2, O-2 gas
equilibration method. Determination of urine ABS (pH, concentrations o
f acids and bases, net acid-base excretion, and base-acid quotient) wa
s performed by titration methods. Determination of concentrations of N
a+ and K+ in erythrocytes was performed by flame photometry, and in pl
asma, by use of ion-specific electrodes. Results-Ammonium chloride cau
sed metabolic acidosis in blood and plasma, but no change of ABS in er
ythrocytes. The concentrations of K+ in plasma and erythrocytes did no
t change in treated dogs; however, the concentrations of Na+ in plasma
and erythrocytes decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after ammonium ch
loride administration. Urinary acid excretion increased significantly
(P < 0.05) in treated dogs; urine pH was between 4.51 and 5.49 at ail
times. Conclusions-Ammonium chloride administration (100 mg/kg, PO, q
12 h) causes substantial blood and urine acidification but does not in
fluence erythrocyte ABS. In this study, determination of erythrocyte A
BS did not provide any additional benefit in diagnosing of blood.