Changes in plasma vasopressin concentration and plasma osmolality in relation to age and time of day in the male Wistar rat

The influence of age on several parameters related to water balance was studied in Wistar rats. Plasma AVP concentration and plasma osmolality were increased at midday in 21-month-old rats as compared with 3- and 4-month-old rats. Daily water intake per 100 g body weight was reduced in 14- and 21-month-old rats as compared with 3- and 4-month-old rats, but total water intake was unaltered. These results suggest that there is a change in water balance in Wistar rats with age. In order to obtain information about the influence of age on daily fluctuations in plasma AVP concentration and osmolality these parameters were determined in 4-month-old Wistar rats sacrificed at 2 h intervals during the day and in 20- and 31-month-old rats sacrificed at 8 h intervals. Plasma AVP concentrations were low during the light period and high during the dark period in 4-month-old rats. The relationship between plasma osmolality and plasma AVP concentration was dependent on the time of day in 4-month-old-rats, Plasma AVP concentrations were higher at 16.00 than at 08.00 and 24.00 in 20-month-old rats, and higher at 24.00 than at 08.00 and 16.00 in 31-month-old rats. In contrast to the plasma AVP concentration during the light period, the average daily AVP concentration (average of plasma AVP concentrations at 08.00, 16.00 and 24.00) was increased in 31-month-old rats only. The relationship between plasma osmolality and plasma AVP concentration was not age-related. The results of the present study suggest that there is a circadian rhythm of plasma AVP concentration in Wistar rats which is age-related but which does not fully correlate with plasma osmolality.