Age differences in the acid-base balance and blood clotting system during starvation

The state of the acid-base balance and of the blood clotting system during starvation was studied in young (5–6 months) and old (24–26 months) male rats. The times of maximal changes in the two systems were found to coincide, but in the young animals the acidotic crisis and hypercoagulation developed earlier and were more severe. The old animals were more resistant to starvation and died later than the young rats.