Water intake of Djungarian and Syrian hamsters treated with various dipsogenic stimuli

Djungarian and Syrian hamsters were found to exhibit robust water intake following water deprivation, and in response to hyperosmotic and hypovolumetric challenges to body fluids following injections of hypertonic NaCl and polyethylene glycol, respectively. Water intake was not stimulated following peripheral injections of isoproterenol, serotonin, or angiotensins II or III. Both hypovolema and isoproterenol activated the renin-angiotensin system. This profile of drinking responses in hamsters is similar to that reported previously for mice and degus.