Daily variation in the urinary excretion of furosemide in young and aged rats

We have recently demonstrated that the time-dependent difference in urinary excretion of furosemide, a loop diuretic, diminishes during the aging process and disappears by 18 months of age in rats. The present study was undertaken to examine whether the amplitude of the daily variations in the urinary excretion of furosemide or their pattern, or both, are influenced in aged animals. Young (3 months of age) and aged (30 months of age) Wistar rats were maintained under conditions of light from 7 am to 7 pm and dark from 7 pm to 7 am. Furosemide (30 mg/kg) was given orally at 4 am, 8 am, 12 am, 4 pm, 8 pm or 12 pm. Urine was collected for 8 hours after furosemide administration and urinary excretion of furosemide was determined. There were significant daily variations in the urinary furosemide and the urine volume with the peak at 8 am and the trough at 12 pm in both groups of rats. The differences in these parameters between the 8 am and 12 pm trials were significantly smaller in the aged than in the young rats. These results suggest that the age-related alteration in the time-dependent phenomenon of furosemide is caused by the decreased amplitude of the daily variation in the urinary furosemide excretion and its diuretic effect.