Figure 5. Plasma Na⁺ in NHE3^loxloxCre mice is susceptible to dietary NaCl.

Dietary NaCl had no effect on plasma [Na⁺] in Con mice (A). In contrast, the amount of dietary NaCl directly impacted plasma [Na⁺] in NHE3^loxloxCre mice (B). In response to low NaCl plasma [K⁺] was decreased to a significantly greater extent in NHE3^loxloxCre compared to Con mice. High NaCl intake slightly reduced plasma [K⁺] in NHE3^loxloxCre mice only (C, D). Aldosterone was increased and reduced in response to low and high NaCl intake, respectively; however, levels between genotypes were not significantly different (E, F). Low NaCl intake caused an increase of blood pH in both genotypes whereas high NaCl intake reduced blood pH (G, H). *P < 0.05 versus Con same diet, ^#P < 0.05 versus baseline same mouse, ^¶P < 0.05 versus low NaCl diet same genotype.