Water balance and food consumption in dehydrated growing jirds (Meriones shawi shawi)

Abstract

This study was an investigation of the degree to which water conservation is adapted in jirds (Meriones shawi shawi) when dehydration occurs during growth. During total water deprivation, three different stages became evident. For the first 7 days of total dehydration food intake decreased, then it stabilized over the next 4 weeks, until it approached the initial amounts, and finally increased to twice control levels. Analysis of changes water flux in growing M. s. shawi, with and without a supply of water, revealed that dehydrated animals are able to develop physiological tolerance and performance with respect to their water balance. The excretion of hyperosmotic urine in response to prolonged dehydration is intimately linked to the adaptive morphological kidney changes, i.e., selective hypertrophy, that we observed.