title: Effects of fludrocortisone on water and sodium intake of C57BL/6 mice.
abstract: Little is known about steroidal control of thirst- and salt-appetite behaviors of mice. The current study investigates effects of fludrocortisone acetate (FCA), a steroid with potent glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid effects, on thirst- and salt-appetite responses of C57BL/6 mice. Treatment with FCA produced dose-dependent (5, 10, and 25 mg/kg) increases in both magnitude and duration of water and sodium intake. Chronic elevation of water and saline intake was achieved with daily injections of FCA. Daily injection of FCA, when only 0.9% saline was available, produced a remarkably rapid increase in saline intake. A single injection of FCA stimulated brisk diuresis and natriuresis in fluid-restricted animals. This work is the first to demonstrate copious water drinking by mice in response to FCA. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility that the renal effects of FCA promote increases in water and sodium turnover and thereby, increases in water and sodium ingestion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa;
authors.forename: Ralph F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa;
authors.forename: Terry G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Beltz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; and François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Alan Kim
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa robert-thunhorst@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Thunhorst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D013894:Thirst / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005438:Fludrocortisone; C034635:fludrocortisone acetate
keywords: drinking; homeostasis; water intake