BALANCE OF LIQUID AND

ELECTROLITE IN ANIMAL
BODY
Sugiharto, Ph.D.
Balance of body fluids and electrolytes
• Body fluids are solutions consisting of water (solvent) and certain
substances dissolved in them
• Electrolytes are chemical substances that produce electrically charged
particles called ions when they are in solution
• Electrolytes function as second messengers, co-enzymes and also
have structural functions in the body
Body fluid
compartment
and electrolyte
concentration
Components in body fluids
• Electrolytes
• Positive ions (cations)
• The main cation in ECF is sodium (Na+), while the main cation in ICF is potassium (K+)
• Negative ions (anions)
• The main anions in ECF are chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-), while the main anions
in ICF are phosphate ions (PO43-)
• Non-electrolyte components
• Substances belonging to non-electrolytes are glucose, urea, creatinine and
bilirubin which are not dissociated in liquid
Balance of body fluids and electrolytes
• Fluid and electrolyte balance means that the body water as a whole
and electrolytes are normally distributed to all parts of the body
• The balance of fluids and electrolytes is interdependent, meaning that
if one is disturbed it will affect the other
• The difference in electrolyte concentrations in the cell membrane is
an important prerequisite for cell stimulation, signal conduction,
transport processes and cell movement
Fluid and electrolyte balance in the body of
livestock
• Homeostasis cannot be maintained if there is a decrease in water
concentration (dehydration) or an increase in water concentration
(over hydration) without proper control
Fluid and electrolyte balance in the body of
livestock
Fluid and electrolyte balance in the body of
livestock
• The kidneys are the main organs responsible for the balance of fluids
in the body of livestock
• Directly control the volume of body fluids through urine excreted
• Maintain body fluid volume by producing concentrated urine, or they can
remove excess body water by producing dilute urine
• Direct control of water excretion in the kidneys is carried out by vasopressin,
or anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
Fluid and electrolyte balance in the body of
livestock
• The regulation of fluid balance by kidneys includes two main aspects:
• Extracellular fluid volume
• Extracellular fluid osmolarity
• The decrease in extracellular fluid volume causes a decrease in arterial blood pressure by
decreasing plasma volume
• The increase in extracellular fluid volume can cause an increase in arterial blood pressure
by increasing the plasma volume
Regulation of extracellular fluid volume
• Regulation can be done by maintaining the balance of water intake
and output and maintaining salt balance
• The kidneys control the amount of salt excreted by controlling the
amount of salt (sodium) that is filtered by regulating the glomerular
filtration rate (GFR) and controlling the amount reabsorbed in the
renal tubules
Regulation of extracellular fluid volume
• The amount of salt or sodium that is reabsorbed also depends on the
system that controls blood pressure
• The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system regulates sodium reabsorption and
sodium retention in the distal and collecting tubules
• Sodium retention results in increased water retention thereby increasing
plasma volume and causing an increase in arterial blood pressure
Environmental effects on fluid and
electrolyte balance in livestock
• Environmental factors such as heat stress can disrupt the electrolyte
balance in livestock as a consequence of a decrease in feed
consumption and an increase in electrolyte excretion from the body
through the kidneys
• Heat stress also causes an increase in the rate of respiration and
sweating (as part of the thermoregulation mechanism) thereby
causing a large loss of water and minerals from the body of the
livestock
Environmental effects on fluid and
electrolyte balance in livestock
• In poultry, heat stress will increase the loss of carbon dioxide and
bicarbonate ions through respiration coupled with monovalent
cations (especially sodium and potassium) through urine
• Not only disturbs the electrolyte balance, heat stress in poultry can also
disturb the acid-base balance (respiratory alkalosis)
• In dairy cows, heat stress greatly affects electrolyte balance
• Potassium is the main cation found in cow sweat and sodium is excreted with
bicarbonate to compensate for the respiratory alkalosis that can occur during
heat stress