Isoproterenol-lnduced Hypokalemia: Role of the Liver 1

Summary

Constant infusion of isoproter-enol into the portal vein of the dog produces a sustained decrease of the plasma [K] in the femoral artery, the hepatic vein, and the portal vein. During the hypokalemia, the hepatic venous plasma [K] falls significantly below the portal venous plasma [K], which indicates a net uptake of K by the liver; at the same time that the liver takes up K, the gut releases a slight amount of K. A preceding loss of K by the liver is not essential to the occurrence of the uptake; therefore, the data suggest that isoproterenol acts directly to increase the uptake of K by the liver.