Continuous measurement of Na concentration in CSF during gastric water infusion in dehydrated rats

To assess the differential stimulus to central and intravascular osmoreceptors during recovery from thermal dehydration, we measured Na concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid ([Na]CSF) and plasma ([Na]p) continuously and compared these during simulated drinking by gastric water infusion (INF) in euhydrated and thermally dehydrated rats under anesthesia. Continuous measurement of [Na]CSF was obtained with a double-barreled Na electrode placed in the lateral ventricle. Continuous measurement of [Na]p was obtained from a flow cell Na electrode in an extracorporeal shunt. Measurements were made during 10 min of INF (2.5 ml/100 g body wt) into the stomach and during 20 min of recovery. Changes in [Na]CSF always lagged behind those in [Na]p and were quantitatively smaller after INF. The decrease in [Na]CSF occurred sooner in dehydrated than in euhydrated rats in response to the decrease in [Na]p (P < 0.01). These results suggest that water and/or Na movement between blood and CSF is accelerated during restitution from thermal dehydration, acting to prevent overhydration during the early phase of rehydration.