Gerbils were restricted in feeding to 0, 40, 80, and 100% of their predetermined median daily food consumption. Water consumption under 0 and 40% food showed a short period of adipsia followed, under 0% only, by significant polydipsia; other conditions showed no significant differences. Analyses of variance of daily water consumption yielded significant differences under 0 and 40% over days and a significant interaction of days by deprivation level (p < .01). Subsequent trend analyses demonstrated a significant linear increase in water consumption from initial adipsia with 0 and 40% restricted feeding. Ss sustained polydipsia as long as food remained restricted.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CizekL. J.Total water content of laboratory animals with special reference to volume of fluid within the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. American Journal of Physiology, 1954, 179, 104–110.
2.
CizekL. J.Relationship between food and water ingestion in the rabbit. American Journal of Physiology, 1961, 201, 557–566.
3.
HuangK.Effects of salt depletion and fasting on water exchange in the rabbit. American Journal of Physiology, 1955, 181, 609–615.
4.
KutscherC. L.StillmanR. D.WeissI. P.Food-deprivation polydipsia in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Physiology and Behavior, 1968, 3, 667–671. (a)
KutscherC. L.TurnerW.MillerD.SymonsJ.SlocumbS.Non-nutritive oral activity and food deprivation polydipsia in the gerbil. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Atlantic City, April, 1970.
7.
ReynierseJ. H.ScavioM. J.SpanierD.Interaction of hunger and thirst in Mongolian gerbils. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1970, 70, 126–135.
8.
WinkelmannJ. R.GetzL. L.Water balance in the Mongolian gerbil. Journal of Mammalogy, 1962, 43, 150–154.
