Abstract:
The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of water deprivation, food deprivation and their combination for three days on the metabolic and endocrine status in rats.
The level of total lipids and triglycerides were significantly reduced, however the level of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol was increased in all groups.
The results of urine tests (kaliuresis, natriuresis, proteinuria) showed a significant signs of dehydration with a significant increase in total protein in dehydrated rats.
Thyroid failure reflected by a decrease in the level of plasma FT4 and FT3 was noted after dehydration, malnutrition and their association. A significant decrease in plasma TSH was observed in malnourished rats and dehydrated and malnourished rats; this level was decreased but not significantly in dehydrated rats.
In our study, we showed that the water and food deprivation or altogether activate hepatic glycogenolysis, muscle lipid oxidation. On the other hand, it seems that nutritional stress modifies the pituitary-thyroid axis through mechanisms different from those of osmotic stress.
