THE USE OF RATS WITH LESION-INDUCED OR HEREDITARY HYPOTHALAMIC DIABETES INSIPIDUS FOR EVALUATING PROLONGED RESPONSES TO ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE PREPARATIONS

The diuresis and the urinary excretion of ions by rats with hereditary and with lesion-induced hypothalamic diabetes insipidus and the change in these parameters in response to lysine vasopressin have been found to be practically identical. The time course of the antidiuretic response can be followed in detail over long periods; it has been found to be sensitive to the nature of the antidiuretic hormone preparation and to the dose level. It is concluded that rats with hypothalamic diabetes insipidus are useful models for studying the time course of the antidiuretic response, in particular to long-acting preparations.