Body fluid distribution in wild Mus musculus acclimated to water restriction

Total body water (TBW), extracellular volume (ECV), and plasma volume (PV) were measured in wild house mice acclimated to chronic water shortage and compared to the same measures in mice exposed acutely to water shortage. Chronic mice were either steady state (SS), i.e., completely acclimated, or nonsteady state (NSS), i.e., transitional. Water shortage was imposed sequentially--1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 ad lib., and no water. SS mice lost solids and cellular fluid at each level of restriction, but maintained plasma volume and partially defended extracellular volume. Acute restriction to 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 ad lib. caused proportional losses of solids and fluids with the predominant fluid loss being extracellular. Acute restriction to no water caused cellular dehydration plus a loss of extracellular fluids including plasma. Comparison of acute and NSS mice at identical levels of restriction showed the NSS groups to be preacclimated toward further water restriction. Discussion centers on the comparison of acclimated and nonacclimated animals, mechanism of PV defense, and the general process of acclimation.