Fluid-electrolyte metabolism and renal function of white rats in experiments aboard Cosmos biosatellites.

Rat experiments on the Cosmos biosatellites demonstrated that the percentage of renal excretion of consumed water after flight was lower than after synchronous experiment. This can be attributed not only to water retention but also to a different level of extrarenal losses postflight. Weightless rats showed increased sodium excretion after water load tests and increased potassium excretion after potassium load tests.