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Gender difference in water excretion and vasopressin secretion in response to chronic high dose alcohol exposure
Author(s) -
Uyehara Catherine F T,
Hernandez Claudia A,
Hashiro Glenn M,
Somponpun Suwit J,
Sato Aileen K
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1418-b
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , alcohol , vasopressin , excretion , diuresis , ethanol , chemistry , kidney , biochemistry
Gonadal steroids are believed to play a role in the regulation of vasopressin (VP). We therefore hypothesized that there may be a gender difference in the VP regulation of fluid handling in response to prolonged alcohol‐induced diuresis. Thus, we examined the ability of adult male (n=12) and female (n=7) Sprague Dawley rats to excrete a water load (2% body weight i.g.) after being fed either a control liquid diet or a high dose alcohol diet (17 ml/kg/d) for 4 to 6 weeks. Control diet fed female rats exhibited a greater water load excretion than male controls (p<0.05), consistent with the premise that estrogens exert an inhibitory effect on VP. High dose alcohol‐fed male rats did not exhibit a decrease in water load excretion as we had previously observed with a lower chronic alcohol dose (3 ml/kg/d), indicating the male rat’s inability to adequately produce a compensatory response at the higher alcohol dose. In contrast, alcohol‐fed females did show a decrease in water load excretion, which corresponded with increased plasma VP levels (p<0.05) in the alcohol‐fed females that were not seen in the alcohol‐fed males. Results suggest that females may have a better ability than males to maintain long term fluid balance when chronically exposed to alcohol. Supported by US Army Medical Command.