Role of rumen fluid hypertonicity in the dehydration-induced hypophagia of cows

Three experiments were performed in non-lactating, rumen-fistulated cows to assess the role of rumen fluid hypertonicity in dehydration-induced hypophagia. First, the course of rumen fluid and plasma osmolality before and after an individual test meal was recorded when water was offered ad libitum and on the fifth day of a 65% water restriction period. Then, the effects of intraruminal water infusions on food intake were examined in dehydrated cows. Finally, two doses of the local anesthetic mepivacaine HCl were given into the rumen in an attempt to inactivate the osmosensors potentially involved in dehydration-induced hypophagia. Water restriction reduced test meal size and increased rumen fluid and plasma osmolality. Despite the smaller meal, the prandial increase in rumen fluid osmolality was more pronounced during water restriction than with water ad libitum. Independent of treatment, the test meal had no effect on plasma osmolality. Intraruminal water infusions during water deprivation decreased rumen fluid osmolality below the control level and normalized food intake. Injection of 2 or 4 g mepivacaine/cow into the rumen did not attenuate dehydration-induced hypophagia. All in all, these results suggest that rumen fluid hypertonicity, perhaps in concert with plasma hypertonicity, contributes to the early satiation induced by dehydration.