Title
A nectar-feeding mammal avoids body fluid disturbances by varying renal function
Date Issued
01 January 2008
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Hartman Bakken B.
Herrera M. L.G.
Carroll R.M.
Ayala-Berdón J.
Schondube J.E.
Martínez Del Rio C.
Publisher(s)
American Physiological Society
Abstract
To maintain water and electrolyte balance, nectar-feeding vertebrates oscillate between two extremes: avoiding overhydration when feeding and preventing dehydration during fasts. Several studies have examined how birds resolve this osmoregulatory dilemma, but no data are available for nectar-feeding mammals. In this article, we 1) estimated the ability of Pallas's long-tongued bats (Glossophaga soricina; Phyllostomidae) to dilute and concentrate urine and 2) examined how water intake affected the processes that these bats use to maintain water balance. Total urine osmolality in water- and salt-loaded bats ranged between 31 ± 37 mosmol/kgH2O (n = 6) and 578 ± 56 mosmol/kgH2O (n = 2), respectively. Fractional water absorption in the gastrointestinal tract was not affected by water intake rate. As a result, water flux, body water turnover, and renal water load all increased with increasing water intake. Despite these relationships, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was not responsive to water loading. To eliminate excess water, Pallas's long-tongued bats increased water excretion rate by reducing fractional renal water reabsorption. We also found that rates of total evaporative water loss increased with increasing water intake. During their natural daytime fast, mean GFR in Pallas's long-tongued bats was 0.37 ml/h (n = 10). This is ∼90% lower than the GFR we measured in fed bats. Our findings 1) suggest that Pallas's long-tongued bats do not have an exceptional urine-diluting or -concentrating ability and 2) demonstrate that the bats eliminate excess ingested water by reducing renal water reabsorption and limit urinary water loss during fasting periods by reducing GFR. Copyright © 2008 the American Physiological Society.
Volume
295
Issue
6
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Endocrinología, Metabolismo (incluyendo diabetes, hormonas) Nutrición, Dietética
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-57349136743
PubMed ID
Source
American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology
ISSN of the container
1931857X
DOI of the container
10.1152/ajprenal.90349.2008
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus