Quantitative Analysis of Skeletal Muscle Contributions to ECF K+ Homeostasis - PubMed
3 days ago
- #potassium homeostasis
- #skeletal muscle
- #ECF K+ regulation
- The study highlights skeletal muscle as a key regulator of extracellular fluid (ECF) potassium (K+) homeostasis, working alongside the kidneys and insulin. It shows that in resting rats, about 98% of newly administered K+ tracer is rapidly taken up by extrarenal tissues, primarily skeletal muscle, within 5 hours. Skeletal muscle's large intracellular fluid (ICF) pool and linear K+ influx with physiological ECF K+ concentration give it high capacity and control efficiency in buffering ECF K+ levels, particularly during acute dietary intake and postabsorptive maintenance. The analysis also explains how insulin's effects on K+ fluxes are modulated to prevent hypokalemia on a low-K+ diet, positioning muscle as a sensor, reservoir, and regulator.