Adipsic to Polydipsic Shift in Gerbils Induced by Food Deprivation

Abstract

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.