Equipotency of hypertonic solutions of mannitol and sodium chloride in eliciting thirst in the dog.

The dogs were infused intravenously with either 3.6% NaCl or 20% mannitol solutions. Both infusions stimulated the animals to drink water when similar osmotic loads were introduced and exactly the same degree of cellular dehydration achieved. The amounts of water drunk at thirst threshold did not differ significantly. The results are discussed with relation to the hypothesis of osmometric control of water intake.