51Cr EDTA determinations of the extracellular fluid volume in hemorrhage: a study with fed and starved rats

Extracellular fluid volumes have been determined in fed and 24-30 h starved rats, before and after 60 min of hemorrhagic hypotension at 70 mmHg. Bilateral renal vascular ligation was carried out to prevent clearance of the isotope tracer used, 51Cr EDTA. The time taken for a bolus of the tracer to distribute itself in its space, was determined in fed and starved animals after the standard period of hypotension. This was found to be 37 min for fed animals, and 50 min for those which had been starved. When the isotope ECF space was compared before and after hemorrhage in fed animals, it was unchanged, despite an estimated blood volume loss of 39%. The isotope ECF space was reduced 5.5% after hemorrhage in animals which had been starved. It is concluded that fed rats mobilised intracellular fluid to the interstitium in hemorrhage, whereas, starved animals did not. This finding of variable fluid homeostasis is ascribed to the different nutritional status of the animals investigated, and has considerable implications.