INFLUENCE OF DIURESIS ON UREA PRODUCTION IN THE FASTING DOG

Abstract

Blood urea level and total urea elimination into the bladder were measured in unanesthetized dogs. Each experiment, lasting 6 to 29 hrs., was subdivided into urine collection periods of appropriate duration. The dogs were subjected on different days to: 1) fasting and deprivation of water; 2) fasting and a large gavage of water; and 3) fasting, water and intraven. injn. of hypertonic saline and glucose. From these data and the assumption that 70% of the body consists of water, the rate of urea production (as distinct from urea elimination) was calculated. This was found to be slightly variable in the animals without water and showed a marked rise occurring with the diuresis in the animals given water. This rise in urea production was distinct from the washing out of urea which tended to occur with diuresis.