Thermal dehydration-induced thirst in rats: role of body
temperature.
Barney, Christopher C., and Michael M. Folkerts.
Department of Biology, Hope College, Holland, MI 49423
APStracts 2:0087R, 1995.
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to study the possible role of
hyperthermia in the thirst associated with thermal dehydration. Rats
were exposed to 40 degrees C for 4 hours and then allowed access to
water at different times after they were transferred to 25 degrees C.
Delaying the time prior to allowing the rats to drink did not
significantly alter either water intake or percent rehydration even
though core temperature decreased during the first 1.5 hours after
removal from the heat. Exposing thermally dehydrated rats to 5
degrees C for 30 min prior to allowing them access to water also
failed to significantly affect water intake or percent rehydration.
Thermally dehydrated rats allowed to drink while remaining in the
heat did not show a significant increase in water intake during the
first hour or percent rehydration over rats drinking at 25 degrees C.
Non-dehydrated rats did show significant increases in water intake
and percent rehydration when allowed to drink in the heat.
Hyperthermia does not play a role in drinking in thermally dehydrated
rats but can stimulate drinking in water replete rats.
Received 9 November 1994; accepted in final form 27 March 1995.
APS Manuscript Number R643-3.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative
Comp. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 10 April 1995.