Postrenal modification of urine in birds

The role of the cloaca and lower intestine in the postrenal modification of urine was studied in conscious normally hydrated desert quail. The birds were studied for a period of 12 days during which they were in intake-output balance. It was calculated that of the combined mixture of urine-feces entering the lower intestine, 47% water, 62% sodium, and 49% potassium were reabsorbed. If this material is considered as coming from the ureteral urine, then the composition of the ureteral urine entering the lower intestine was changed as follows: 77% water, 72% sodium, and 82% potassium were reabsorbed. For urate, 68% of the total present in ureteral urine was degraded in the lower intestine. In terms of the filtered load produced by the kidneys, the lower intestine reabsorbed 1.5% filtered water, 0.4% filtered sodium, and 46% filtered potassium. The total filtered loads reabsorbed by the combined efforts of the kidney and lower intestine were 99.5% water, 99.8% sodium, and 88% potassium. It appears that the cloaca and lower intestine of birds may serve a similar function to that of the distal nephron in mammals, making the fine adjustments in water and sodium reabsorption from the urine.