Reindeer, body temperature

Two reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) were placed in stalls located within controlled environment chambers, and 1(X) xCi HTO was injected into their jugular veins. Periodically, blood samples were inspected for radioactivity. This study of body-water volume and turnover was conducted using 12 different combinations of diet and temperature. A comparison of water-flux rate, as determined with HTO, to measured water input showed a linear relationship (Figure 48). The investigators (Cameron et aL, 1976) concluded that the tritium water dilution technique provided accurate determinations of total-body-water flux over the wide range of experimental conditions in reindeer. 

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