Abstract
THE experiment described here indicates that mice arc able to discriminate between D2O and H2O. Two male litter mates of Mus musculus domesticus (strain T–O) were kept in separate Harwell type cages, each fitted with two water bottles. In the experimental cage, one bottle contained D2O and the other glass-distilled H2O, and in the control cage each bottle contained glass-distilled H2O. The bottles were refilled every 24 h and the quantity taken from each during the previous day was determined. The bottles were replaced in the cages in a random manner, following Fisher and Yates's table of random numbers. The experiment was continued for 14 days and Table 1 shows the quantities of liquid taken during that period by the two mice.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Thomson, J. F., Biological Effects of Deuterium, 96 (Pergamon Press, 1964).
Shallenberger, R. S., and Acree, T. E., Nature, 216, 840 (1967).
Wiberg, K. B., Chem. Rev., 55, 713 (1955).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SMITH, C. Discrimination between Heavy Water and Water by the Mouse. Nature 217, 760 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/217760a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/217760a0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.