ERYTHROCYTIC OUABAIN-SENSITIVE SODIUM-EFFLUX RATE-CONSTANT IN PREGNANCY

To elucidate the physiology of active sodium transport (expressed as e rythrocytic ouabain-sensitive sodium efflux rate constant = ERCos) in pregnancy and the influence of dietary sodium intake on that transport , active sodium transport was measured in 52 healthy pregnant women in week 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 or week 38 of gestation. ERCos was not in fluenced by parity, dietary sodium intake or the development of pregna ncy-induced hypertension. A statistical significant shift in ERCos was detected between week 24 and week 28 of gestation accompanied by a sh ift in intracellular sodium content. The meaning of this change in pre gnancy remains unsolved, but an influence of ANP through A-II is sugge sted.