Phenomenological analysis of renal regulation of sodium and potassium balance

M Walser - Kidney international, 1985 - kidney-international.org
Extracellular fluid volume (ECF) is maintained within normal limits principally by the renal
regulation of sodium excretion. Despite a wealth of studies on specific mechanisms, such as
the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, there is little information as to exactly how ECF
varies in response to variations in salt intake. For example, when intake and output of
sodium are equal, what is the relationship between ECF and output (or intake)? When salt
intake changes in a step fashion, what is the time course of the resulting changes in ECF …