SOME EFFECTS OF FOOD AND WATER-DEPRIVATION ON METABOLISM IN BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS, CYNOMYS-LUDOVICIANUS

1. 1. Prairie dogs deprived of food and water at normal room temperatures can survive for long periods (without apparent ill effects after 6 weeks) with weight losses approaching 50%. 2. 2. During food and water deprivation during the summer respiratory exchange ratio drops below 0.7, oxygen consumption decreases, and rectal temperature drops slightly. Unlike winter experimental animals, prairie dogs deprived of food and water in summer became dehydrated and azotemic. Furthermore, plasma triglyceride and ketone concentrations of these animals were much lower than those of winter experimental and control prairie dogs. 3. 3. Typical mammalian responses to starvation, such as azotemia. hypoglycemia, and ketosis do not develop in winter starved prairie dogs, and their blood chemistry has many characteristics resembling that of black bears in winter sleep. Some possible metabolic adaptations are discussed. 4. 4. Similar concentrations (range: 62-180 pg/ml) of aldosterone were found in summer expetimental and control prairie dogs. © 1979.