The effect of food and water deprivation on the peripheral blood parameters of the mouse

Various peripheral blood and bone marrow parameters were determined during food and water deprivation and during food deprivation alone in order to obtain base lines that may be used to make comparisons with similar data from irradiated mice. The peripheral blood parameters following food and water deprivation were similar to those following food deprivation alone. The mean survival time was about 5 days and the weight loss 40% of the control weight. There was an absolute decrease in the total circulating lymphocyte and platelet counts, while the total granulocyte count remained unchanged or increased. The blood volume decreased, while the hematocrit and specific gravity of the blood increased. The bone marrow parameters following food and water deprivation showed that erythropoiesis was more markedly depressed than myelopoiesis. The tritiated thymidine labeling index for granulopoietic cells and megakaryocytes decreased progressively during starvation. The variations in the white blood count and the bone marrow parameters are not comparable with those found in irradiated mice having the G.I. syndrome; the changes in mean survival time, weight loss, hematocrit, and blood volume are similar.