Water Consumption of the Ageing Sprague-Dawley Male Rat

In a study of water consumption of the rat as a function of age, 3-day measurements were taken at 6-month intervals from three months of age until death. A remarkable increase in consumption was observed to occur in many animals during the last six months of life span. The magnitude of the abrupt change was increased as a function of age at measurement and appeared to be unrelated to food consumption or changes in body weight. It is thus believed to reflect a disease process related to ageing. Excessive water consumption values were reflected by a considerable increase in the mean and variability of water consumption values of the total population whose consumption otherwise showed only a gradual increase with age. (Author)