Abstract
Summary
(1) Water excretion by hydrated rats has been studied to ascertain the alterations after ligation of the inferior vena cava at 3 levels in relationship to the renal veins. In addition, the effects of unilateral nephrectomy, hypophysectomy and thoracic lymph duct ligation, and various other control procedures have been observed. (2) The antidiuretic effect of inferior vena cava ligation in the hydrated rat is shown to be independent of increased renal venous pressure, and is also shown to occur in the absence of the pituitary gland. (3) The critical importance of the lymphatic pathway in maintaining an effective circulating blood volume in the presence of acute venous obstruction is demonstrated by showing the lethal effects of hydration in animals with combined caval and thoracic duct ligation, procedures which are separately tolerated by the rat.
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