INHIBITION OF STARVATION-INDUCED BODY DEHYDRATION BY SALINE CONSUMPTION IN RATS AND GERBILS

Food-deprivation hypovolemia has been observed in a variety of mesic- and desert-adapted rodent species. Xeric-adapted rodents appear to lose intravascular volume in proportion to body weight loss during food restriction, while mesically adapted rodent species lose intravascular volume at a rate much greater than that of body weight loss. The present investigation noted significant inhibition of food deprivation hypovolemia in rats given access to saline solutions. Similarly treated gerbils evidenced inhibited carcass water losses with sequestering of fluids in the extracellular space. Availability of sodium during food deprivation appears to be essential to both species for the maintenance of body water balance in ratio with weight loss during short-term starvation. © 1979 Academic Press, Inc.