Thirst following water deprivation in humans

Abstract

The effect of 24-h water deprivation and subsequent drinking on systemic fluid balance and subjective sensations has been determined in human beings. The deprivation caused significant intracellular and extracellular depletions, thirst, and a dry unpleasant tasting mouth. During rehydration, subjects drank 65% of their total intake within 2.5 min. The marked decrease in drinking rate thereafter, and the alleviation of thirst, occurred before plasma dilution had become significant. This attenuation of drinking was subjectively attributed to stomach fullness. Presystemic factors may therefore be important for drinking termination in humans. Within 20 min systemic deficits were removed, but intermittent drinking continued at a low rate, reportedly to alleviate unpleasant oral sensations, Following rehydration, the concentrated urine of hydropenia had disappeared. However, the excretion of solute-free water varied between subjects. Plasma renin activity was significantly elevated by water deprivation, while after rehydration this activity had decreased to levels not significantly different from predeprivation values.