Osmoregulation during Pregnancy in the Rat: EVIDENCE FOR RESETTING OF THE THRESHOLD FOR VASOPRESSIN SECRETION DURING GESTATION

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Abstract

Osmoregulation was studied in near term and age-matched Sprague-Dawley rats. Basal plasma osmolality (Posm) and plasma sodium (PNa) were 281±3 mosmol/kg and 134±3 meq/liter, respectively, on the 20th gestational day compared with 292±3 mosmol/kg and 140±1 meq/liter in virgin animals (P < 0.001), whereas Purea and plasma water content were similar in pregnant and control rats. These differences could not be reproduced in animals receiving progesterone, estrone, or a combination of progesterone and estradiol for 2 wk.

Authors

Jacques A. Durr, Barbara Stamoutsos, Marshall D. Lindheimer