title: Mild dehydration and atrial natriuretic peptide in young and elderly subjects.
abstract: The influence of mild dehydration on plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was studied in both young (aged 18 to 25 years) and elderly (aged 72 to 86 years) subjects. We expected that dehydration would lower ANP concentrations due to the ensuing volume contraction. A different response of the ANP hormonal system in the elderly might help to explain the observation that elderly subjects are more predisposed to dehydration as compared to young subjects. Dehydration was induced by restriction of fluid intake to 25% of normal for one day. During the study, urinary osmolality increased while osmolar clearance and body weight decreased. Basal ANP concentrations were higher in the elderly subjects. However, these levels did not change during the dehydration study neither in the young nor in the elderly subjects. This may be explained by the activation of counter-regulatory systems preventing a decrease in central blood volume and hence a decrease in ANP concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Chemical Endocrinology, St. Radboud Hospital, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hoefnagels
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gerritsen
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kloppenborg
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Benraad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003681:Dehydration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014667:Vasopressins; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor