Endocrine and ingestive behavioral responses to fluid deprivation in sheep chronically exposed to ethanol

• Published in: Physiology & behavior 2009-03, Vol.96 (4), p.637-645
• Main Authors: Weisinger, R.S, Begg, D.P, Denton, D.A, Findlay, A.L.R, Kennedy, G.A, Purcell, B, Walker, L.L, Blair-West, J.R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - drug effects; Alcohol Drinking - metabolism; Alcohol ingestion; Aldosterone; Aldosterone - blood; Analysis of Variance; Angiotensin II - blood; Animals; Arginine Vasopressin - blood; Atrial natriuretic peptide; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Central Nervous System Depressants - pharmacology; Choice Behavior; Dehydration; Drinking behavior; Drinking Behavior - drug effects; Drinking Behavior - physiology; Ethanol - pharmacology; Female; Fluid deprivation; Food Preferences - drug effects; Food Preferences - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Homeostasis - drug effects; Hypopituitarism; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Renin angiotensin system; Vasopressin; Water Deprivation - physiology; Water-Electrolyte Balance - drug effects
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.12.021

Abstract Endocrine responses to fluid deprivation/restoration and preference for ethanol solution vs. water were assessed in sheep maintained for 5 months on a 10% ethanol solution as their sole source of fluid. Blood pressure, body weight, plasma composition and hormone levels of the alcohol maintained sheep were all within a normal range, except for high plasma concentrations of ANG II and ALDO. During fluid deprivation, AVP concentration increased and fluid-deprived sheep displayed a natriuresis and then a rehydration anti-natriuresis. Sheep did not drink the 10% ethanol solution avidly upon fluid restoration, preferring to drink steadily over the following 24 h; there was an associated increase in blood alcohol concentration (BAC). PRC, ANG II and ALDO all increased throughout the fluid restoration period, whereas plasma AVP and ANP gradually fell. In a separate experiment when water was also supplied to the sheep, they preferred water to 10% ethanol; however, alcohol intake was not eliminated. Overall, this degree of chronic consumption of 10% ethanol solution did not appear to adversely affect physiological mechanisms concerned with body fluid homeostasis after fluid deprivation conditions.