Secretion by salt gland during water deprivation in the duck
Stewart, D.J.
American Journal of Physiology 223(2): 384-386
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 5046754 Document Number: 51609
Domestic ducks which had been maintained on fresh water were subjected to water deprivation. The mean time to the onset of salt gland secretion was 705 plus or minus 158 min. During the 2000-min dehydration period, the salt glands produced 11.8 plus or minus 3.0 ml (range 4.7 to 26.6 ml) fluid. The fluid contained 578 plus or minus 19 m-equiv/litre Na+ and 17.4 plus or minus 1.6 m-equiv/litre K+. The plasma osmotic pressure rose from 291 plus or minus 3.7 to 326 plus or minus 4.8 mosmoles/litre and the blood volume fell from 285 plus or minus 0.9 to 256 plus or minus 6.5 ml. Since secretion occurred under conditions where blood volume was relatively constant or declining, it is concluded that volume receptors are not required to mediate the secretory response by the salt glands. A simple method for the collection of fluid from the salt gland is described.