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A comparison of gastrointestinal water content and osmolality in East African herbivores during hydration and dehydration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. M. O. Maloiy ,
C. R. Taylor  and
E. T. Clemens
G. M. O. Maloiy
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology, University of Nairobi, Kenya, and
C. R. Taylor
Affiliation:
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
E. T. Clemens
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology, University of Nairobi, Kenya, and
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Extract

A wealth of information is available concerning the ‘normal’ gastrointestinal mechanisms within various species of herbivores (Alexander, 1962; Church, 1971; Quarterman, Phillips & Lampkin, 1957). In addition, the effect that dehydration has upon the physiology of digestion has also been investigated (Schmidt-Nielsen et al. 1956; Schmidt-Nielsen, 1964; Maloiy, 1972; Macfarlane et al. 1972). This communication presents preliminary observations on the effect that dehydration hasupon gastrointestinal water content, as a percentage of total gut contents, and fluid osmolality (m-osmol/kg H2O). A comparison was made under controlled laboratory conditions between six species of domestic herbivores fed identical diets and exposed to a simulated desert environment

Type
Short Note
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 91 , Issue 1 , August 1978 , pp. 249 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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References

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