The effects of food and drink on the survival of binephrectomized rats

Previous studies have shown that the survival time of rats following binephrectomy is between 48 and 120 hours. The aim of the present study was to examine the assumption that the eating and drinking protocol before and after binephrectomy affects the survival time following surgery in male, female and young rats. In this study we used protocols which included various combinations of eating and drinking or their prevention before and after binephrectomy. Survival time was determined by examining the kinetics of death following binephrectomy. Examination of the azotemia and physiological condition of the rat was performed by testing BUN, creatinine, plasma Na and K concentrations as well as the hematocrit. All rats that had eaten and drunk before and after binephrectomy, in various combinations, died within 48 hours. Rats that did not eat or drink before and after binephrectomy died within 72 hours (p < 0.001). Rats that did not eat before and after the binephrectomy but had free access to drink died within 90 hours of the surgery (p < 0.001). From this study it can be concluded that the eating and drinking protocol before and after binephrectomy affects the survival time of male, female and young rats. The effect varies between a survival time of 48 and 90 hours following binephrectomy. A possible explanation for this effect is that the eating and drinking protocol affects the rate of azotemia formation.