Some problems on the estimation of water intake by a drinkometer.

Abstract Water intake per lick (WIL) of a mouse increased from 4 to 7 weeks old, and thereafter the WIL of each animal maintained a nearly constant level. Considerable individual differences of WIL were perceived throughout the period of observation. The licking frequency (LF) per day of a mouse was inversely related with its WIL, while no significant correlation was found between body weight and other parameters such as WIL, LF, and water intake (WI). Relation between the LF and the WIL was found to be statistically significant, but not proportional. Therefore, for estimating the WI of the animal from the electronic drinkometer values, careful attention should be paid.