Potassium depletion enhances renal compensatory hypertrophy in the nephrectomized rat.

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether dietary K depletion would stimulate further renal growth in rats subject to 5/6 nephrectomy. In 36 rats renal mass was reduced by left 2/3 nephrectomy and right complete nephrectomy. Rats were fed either a normal or K-free diet.