Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A control model of the physiological basis of thirst

  • Published:
Medical and biological engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The model presented is basically a servo-regulator containing an input-controlled sampling device and is intended for use as a tool in research on the control of water-intake in rats; a problem in the field of animal motivation. The model incorporates monitoring of the size of the main (extra-cellular and intra-cellular) body-fluid compartments, and proposes that these compartment volumes are the two relevant variables used to regulate the amount of water drunk. It is further argued that sodium chloride intake is controlled using information from the same receptor system. The sampling mechanism of the model accounts for competition among different motivations. Explanations of the interacting relationship between eating and drinking, and between water-intake control and renal control are also included.

Sommaire

Le modèle présenté est essentiellement un servo-régulateur comportant un système d'échantillonnage contrôle par son entrée et est destiné à servir d'outil de recherche pour la mesure de l'eau absorbée chez les rats; c'est un problème du domaine de la motivation animale. Le modèle comprend la mesure de la dimension des principaux contenants des liquides du corps (volume extra-cellulaire ou intra-cellulaire) et se fonde sur le fait que ces volumes sont les facteurs principaux de la régulation de l'eau bue. Il est démontré plus loin que la régulation de l'absorption de chlorure de sodium s'effectue à partir des informations de même origine. Le mécanisme d'échantillonnage a été incorporé en modèle pour tenir compte de l'influence de différentes motivations. On trouvera également des explications relatives aux interférences entre le manger et le boire d'une part, et entre le contrôle de l'eau absorbée et l'activité rénale d'autre part.

Zusammenfassung

Das beschriebene Modell ist im Wesentlichen ein Servo-Regulator mit eingabekontrollierter Meßvorrichtung. Es wurde als Hilfsmittel zur Untersuchung der Regulation der Wasseraufnahme von Ratten entworfen. Das Modell überwacht die Größe der Hauptkompartimente des Körperwassers (extra- und intrazellulärer Raum). Es wird angenommen, daß die Volumina dieser Kompartimente die beiden wesentlichen Variablen in der Regulation der getrunkenen Wassermenge sind. Weiterhin wird die Auffassung vertreten, daß die Kochsalzaufnahme unter Benutzung der Information aus dem gleichen Rezeptorsystem reguliert wird. Aus dem Meßmechanismus des Modell ist der Wettbewerb zwischen verschiedenen Motivationen zu erklären. In dieser Arbeit werden Erklärungen über das Verhältnis des Essens zum Trinken und der Wasseraufnahmeregulation zur renalen Regulation gegeben.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adolph, E. F. (1957) Thirst and its inhibition in the stomach.Am. J. Physiol. 161, 374–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adolph, E. F., Barker, J. P. andHoy, P. A. (1954) Multiple factors in thirst.Am. J. Physiol. 178, 538–562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adolph, E. F. andNorthrop, J. P. (1952) Absorption of water and chloride. (Rat)Am. J. Physiol. 168, 311–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson, B. (1953) The effect of injections of hypertonic NaCl solutions into different parts of the hypothalamus of goats.Acta physiol. scand. 28, 188–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellows, R. T. (1939) Time factors in water drinking in dogs.Am. J. Physiol. 125, 87–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent, D. E. (1958)Perception and communications. Pergamon Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolles, R. C. (1961) The interaction of hunger and thirst in the rat.J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 55, 230–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cizek, L. J., Semple, R. E., Huang, K. C. andGregerson, M. I. (1951) Effect of extracellular electrolyte depletion on water intake in dogs.Am. J. Physiol. 164, 415–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbit, J. D. (1965) Effect of intravenous sodium chloride on drinking in the rat.J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 60, 397–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J. O. (1964) Aldosterone and Angiotensin.J. Am. med. Ass. 188, 1062–1068.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch, J. A. (1960)The structural basis of behaviour. Cambridge University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falk, J. L. (1961) The behavioural regulation of water-electrolyte balance.Nebraska symposium on motivation (Edited byM. R. Jones), Vol. 9, 1–33.

  • Fincham, W. F. (1963) A study of the mechanism regulating the composition of the human blood by means of an electrical analogue computer. Ph.D. thesis. University of London.

  • Fitzsimons, J. T. (1961) Drinking by nephrectomised rats injected with various substances.J. physiol. 155, 563–579.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimons, J. T. (1961) Drinking by rats depleted of body-fluid without increase in osmotic pressure.J. physiol. 159, 297–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimons, J. T. (1963) The effect of slow infusions of hypertonic solutions on drinking thresholds in rats.J. physiol. 167, 344–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimons, J. T. (1964) Drinking caused by constriction of the inferior vena cava in the rat.Nature, Lond. 204, 497–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimons, J. T. (1966) Hypothalamus and drinking.Brit. Med. Bull. 22, 232–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaver, O. H. andHenry, J. P. (1963) Circulatory basis of fluid volume control.Physiol. Rev. 43, 423–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, J. H. andMontgomery, A. V. (1951) Observations on relation of haemorrhage to thirst.Am. J. Physiol. 167, 796.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, K. C. (1955) Effect of salt depletion and fasting on water exchange in the rabbit.Am. J. Physiol. 181, 609–615.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liljestrand, G. andZotterman, Y. (1954) The water taste in mammals.Acta physiol. scand. 32, 291–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meredith, J. F. (1957) An investigation of the mechanisms maintaining sodium and water balance in animals. Ph.D. thesis. Durham University.

  • Miller, N. E. (1957) Experiments on motivation studies combining psychological, physiological and pharmacological techniques.Science, N.Y. 126, 1271–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, N. E., Sampliner, R. I. andWoodrow, P. (1957) Thirst reducing effects of water by stomach-fistula vs. water by mouth measured by both a consumatory and instrumental response.J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 50, 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novin, D. (1962) The relation between electrical conductivity of brain tissue and thirst in rat.J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 55, 145–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oatley, K. (1965) Thirst and drinking mechanisms in the regulation of water intake in rats. Ph.D. thesis. University of London.

  • Oatley, K. (1964) Changes of blood volume and osmotic pressure in the production of thirst.Nature, Lond. 202, 1341–1342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paintal, A. S. (1954) A study of gastric stretch receptors. Their role in the peripheral mechanism of satiation of hunger and thirst.J. physiol. 126, 255–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priban, I. P. andFincham, W. F. (1965) Self-adaptive control and the respiratory system.Nature, Lond. 208, 339–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radford, E. P. (1959) Factors modifying water metabolism in rats fed dry diets.Am. J. Physiol. 196, 1098–1108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnieden, H. (1962) Solution drinking in rats after dehydration and after haemorrhage.Am. J. Physiol. 203, 560–562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semple, R. E. (1952) Compensatory changes in the rat following removal of electrolytes by intraperitoneal dialysis.Am. J. Physiol. 168, 55–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stellar, E. andHill, J. H. (1952) The rats rate of drinking as a function of water deprivation.J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 45, 96–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Towbin, E. J. (1949) Gastric distension as a factor in the satiation of thirst in oesophagastomised dogs.Am. J. Physiol. 159, 533–541.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verney, E. B. (1947) The anti-diuretic hormone and the factors which determine its release.Proc. R. Soc. 135B, 25–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verplanck, N. S. andHayes, J. R. (1953) Eating and drinking as a function of maintenance schedule.J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 46, 327–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, A. V. (1950) Osmometric analysis of thirst in man and dog.Am. J. Physiol. 161, 75–86.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Autonomics Division, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex

    K. Oatley

Authors
  1. K. Oatley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work is part of the research programme of the National Physical Laboratory, and is published by permission of the Director.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oatley, K. A control model of the physiological basis of thirst. Med. & biol. Engng. 5, 225–237 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02474532

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02474532

Keywords

Search

Navigation