Neuroendocrinology of body fluid homeostasis

The hormonal control of body fluid homeostasis has served as an important model for neurohormonal interactions. Perturbations to body fluid levels generally occur in two forms: those leading to intracellular fluid reduction and those removing fluid from the extracellular space. Each form has a specific set of physiological responses that reduce the impact of the deficit and help prevent additional loss, but restoration of homeostasis requires changes in behavior. This chapter describes the neural, endocrine, and behavioral phenomena that occur in response to deficits in body fluid while highlighting the wealth of information that has arisen from research in this area.