WATER DISTRIBUTION AND SEXUAL SKIN OF THE BABOON

Abstract

[longdash]Quantitative measurements were made of the bulk of the sexual skin of Papio hamadryas and P. papio throughout the menstrual cycle. Water distr. between the principal body compartments was also studied by means of urea (total body water), thiocyanate (extracellular water) and T-1824 (plasma vol.). At the height of the swelling the sexual skin may account for as much as 35% of the animal''s wt., compared with about 2% when it is shrunken. The increase in bulk is almost wholly extracellular, and is accompanied by a dehydration and loss of wt. by the remainder of the body. The participation of thirst and urine production in the cyclic changes is also given.