THE PRIMACY OF POLYURIA IN DIABETES INSIPIDUS

Abstract

Rats with acute diabetes insipidus produced by hypophysectomy or a stab wound in the floor of the 3d ventricle excreted large quantities of urine when deprived of water (av. for 13 rats for a 9-hr. period, 19.2 cc. as compared to 2.5 cc. for 5 rats with a control operation). Rats with chronic diabetes insipidus excreted large quantities of urine even when completely deprived of water (av. for 4 rats for a 9-hr. period, 10.1 ce. as compared to 1.5 cc. for 12 normal rats). The onset of polyuria preceded the onset of polydipsia by an av. of 1 hr. 21 min. following the hypophysectomy in 7 rats. Polyuria is evidently the primary factor in the syndrome of diabetes insipidus.