The Effect of Adrenalectomy on the Renal Tubular Reabsorption of Water in the Rat¹

It is well known that the adrenal insufficient animal excretes a given dose of water at a slower rate than the normal (Gaunt, 1946). The purpose of the present paper is to present data which indicate that the basis for this deficiency in water excretion is an increased reabsorption of water by the renal tubules in the absence of the adrenal cortical hormones. materials and methods Three groups of Sprague-Dawley female rats were used; 12 ad libitum fed controls, 11 adrenalectomized and 6 pair-fed controls. The rats weighed from 200–250 grams and were fed GLF “calf meal.” The pair-fed controls were started a day following the operated animals, and received only as much ration as the latter had eaten in the previous 24 hr. period. Thus any effects of post-operative inanition were eliminated in interpreting the results. Following adrenalectomy the operated rats were given 1% sodium chloride to drink and were not used for at least two weeks, by which time they had completely recovered from the operation.