"Drinker" - what is it, definition of the term
The designation identifies any organism that habitually ingests liquids, primarily water, to meet physiological requirements; in practice it frequently refers to small rodents such as rats and mice, whose fluid consumption is monitored for health assessment and experimental control.
Detailed information
Rats and mice regulate fluid balance through continuous ingestion of water and moisture-rich foods. Average adult laboratory rats consume approximately 30 ml of water per 100 g body weight each day, while mice ingest about 5 ml per 100 g. These values can vary with ambient temperature, humidity, and dietary composition.
Physiological demand for liquids supports renal filtration, thermoregulation, and metabolic processes. The kidneys concentrate urine to conserve water, and the hypothalamic osmoreceptors trigger thirst when plasma osmolarity rises. Ingested fluid also supplies electrolytes essential for nerve transmission and muscle contraction.
Factors influencing liquid intake include:
- Ambient temperature: higher temperatures increase evaporative loss, prompting greater consumption.
- Dietary moisture: pelleted diets with low moisture content drive higher water intake than wet or gel diets.
- Salt load: elevated dietary sodium raises thirst response.
- Health status: infection, renal impairment, or gastrointestinal disturbance can either increase or decrease consumption.
Measurement of fluid consumption is typically performed by offering a calibrated bottle or graduated tube and recording weight change over a defined interval. Automated monitoring systems provide minute‑by‑minute data, allowing detection of subtle shifts associated with experimental interventions.
Accurate knowledge of drinking behavior informs cage design, welfare assessment, and experimental dosing. Adjusting water availability based on species‑specific consumption patterns ensures hydration stability and minimizes confounding variables in biomedical research.