Heart Atria Granularity Effects of Changes in Water-Electrolyte Balance

It was found that water deprivation and sodium deficiency lead to atrial hypergranulation, whereas, the combined administration of desoxycorticosterone and NaCl in the drinking water leads to degranulation.

Abstract

SummaryAtrial granularity was measured using a new morphometric method in rats subjected to procedures known to alter water-electrolyte balance. It was found that water deprivation and sodium deficiency lead to atrial hypergranulation, whereas, the combined administration of desoxycorticosterone (2.5 mg/100 g body wt/day) and 2% NaCl in the drinking water leads to degranulation. A statistically significant correlation was found between atria granularity and hematocrit values in water deprivation; animals with higher hematocrit had more granules. The findings point to a relationship between atrial-specific granules and the regulation of water-electrolyte balance in these situations.