Food deprivation and refeeding in the camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Camels thrive in arid and semiarid areas, although food and water frequently are scarce. However, the mechanisms enabling camels to withstand food deprivation are poorly understood. In this study four female camels were totally deprived of food for 4 days. Their body weight decreased by 6%. Food deprivation caused no change in total plasma protein concentration in the camel, indicating that no alterations in plasma volume occurred. When the first meal was withheld water intake was unchanged. Next day the camels showed signs of hydration with a decreased plasma Na+ concentration and an increased excretion of diluted urine. In the afternoon water intake decreased. Urine K+ excretion fell the first day and urine volume and Na+ excretion from the third day. No activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) was observed. Plasma and urine urea concentration increased during food deprivation. Plasma glucose concentration and plasma cortisol and thyroxine levels did not change. Body temperature decreased during food deprivation. After refeeding, total plasma proteins increased temporarily by 12%, and a threefold increase in RAAS was seen, implying that both plasma volume and RAAs changed rapidly. Our results show that fluid balance was only slightly affected in the food-deprived camel. We suggest that strategies for the camel to endure food deprivation include maintenance of plasma volume and glucose concentration and a lowering of the body temperature.