Effect of Castration and Sex Hormone Administration on Water and Electrolyte Distribution in Kidney, Smell Intestine and Lung of Male Rabbit

Kim, Byung Ki; Choo, Kun Weon

Abstract

One hundred and twenty male rabbits were divided into 8 groups in order to studythe effect of castration and sex hormone administration on water and electrolytesdistribution in kidney, small intestine and lung tissue as follows:Group 1: control (non castrated)Group 2: estrogen injectedGroup 3: androgen injectedGroup 4: progesterone injectedGroup 5: castration control (castrated)Group 6: estrogen injected and castrationGroup 7: androgen injected and castrationGroup 8: progesterone injected and castrationFourteen days after castration, each rabbit in groups 6, 7 and 8 was administeredwith 2,000 units of estrogen, 400 units of androgen and 400 units of progesteronddaily for 3 days consecutively. Three days after the final injection, they weresacrificed by means of cardiac puncture. Immediately after sacrificing the animals, kidney, lung and small intestine were removed to determine the contentsof tissue water. Na, K and Cl. Water content was determined by drying method in 1O0 degrees C oven until the weight remained constant. Na and K in serum and tissue wereanalyzed with Baird flame photometer using lithium nitrate as internal standard.Serum Cl was analyzed by the method of Schales and Schales and tissue Cl by theVan Slyke's. The conclusion is as follows: 1) In control rabbits (non castrated), serum concentration of Na and K was decreased while Cl concentration was increased after administration of estrogen, androgen and progesterone. 2) In castrated rabbits, serum concentration of Na was increased, while K was decreased. Na and K were decreased, while Cl was increased by the administration of sex hormone after castration. 3) In kidney tissue of non castrated rabbits, water content was slightly increased by the administration of sex hormone. The changes in concentration of Na, K, Cl. extracellular space and total Na + K were not significant, while K was increased remarkably in the progesterone group. Also the total Na + K [cell water (Na)] was remarkably increased as high as 47%. 4) In kidney tissue of castrated rabbits, water content and Na were increased, whereas K and Cl were decreased. The administration of sexhormone acted inclusively on the restoration of these levels to the precastration state. The androgen injection provided the most effective result. 5) In lung tissue of non castrated rabbits, Na and K were decreased by the administration of sex hormone. In the androgen group, a decrease of Na and K was most remarkable, Cl in the progesterone group, and Na space and total Na+K in the androgen group were decreased remarkably. 6) In lung tissue of castrated rabbits, water content was increased, and Na, K and Cl were all decreased. The administration of sex hormone acted inclusively on the restoration of these levels to the precastration state. In general, the androgen was most effective among hormones given. 7) In small intestine tissue of non castrated rabbits, Na, K and Cl were increased and also the extracellular space and total Na+K were inclusively increased. 8) In small intestine tissue of castrated rabbits, water content and K were increased while Na was decreased. The administration of sex hormone acted on the restoration to the precastration state in the water content and Na. The androgen was most effective among hormones given.