title: [The effect of glucocorticoids on the diluting capacity of the kidney of a desert rodent: Gerbillus campestris].
abstract: The ability to excrete a water load was studied in Wistar rats and in gerbils (Gerbillus campestris). The rat excreted the entire water load in less than 2 h whereas Gerbillus campestris excreted less than 60% of the water load in 4 h. The gerbils which had received a dose of 15 micrograms/100 g body weight dexamethasone improved their rate of excretion which attained 92 +/- 6% in 2 h 30 min. The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) measured by radioimmunoassay at the time of maximum diuresis was undetectable in rats; in contrast, in gerbils the level of ADH remained relatively high (55.4 +/- 6.7 pg/ml). We conclude that the partial inability of the gerbil's kidney to excrete a water load is due to a high ADH level and probably to a low concentration of glucocorticoids.
authors.affiliation: Faculté des sciences, laboratoire de physiologie animale, unité d'endocrinologie, Rabat, Maroc, France.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Laamarti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baddouri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burlet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014667:Vasopressins; D003907:Dexamethasone
vernacular_title: Effet des glucocorticoïdes sur la capacité de dilution du rein chez un rongeur désertique: Gerbillus campestris.