Water and electrolyte exchange in rats exposed to cold

Abstract

Exposure of rats to air at 6 °C for 10 days increased food intake and urine output but failed to affect water intake. A comparison of water with food intake revealed a smaller water intake for a given food intake for cold-exposed than for control rats. The urine output at a given water intake was also greater for cold-exposed rats. In addition, cold exposure failed to affect urine osmolality significantly. Thus, the greater solute output accompanying cold exposure was accomplished by increasing urine flow rather than by concentrating urine. These results suggest possible mechanisms for both the relative dehydration and increased plasma osmolality observed after removal of rats from cold air. Both fecal and urinary routes of sodium and potassium excretion were increased by cold exposure; however, fecal excretions of both potassium and sodium were greater fractions of the total output during cold exposure than prior to it. Although cold exposure tends to induce a relative dehydration in rats, an important factor limiting the extent of the dehydration may be increased fecal electrolyte loss.