NaCl solution acceptability by sodium-deficient rats

Sodium-deficient rats consumed various NaCl solutions in a brief multi-stimulus taste test that was shown to minimize post ingestional factors. Rats with acute sodium-deficiency following subcutaneous formalin injections showed normal NaCl acceptability curves. In contrast, sodium-deprived adrenalectomized rats showed distinct changes in NaCl acceptability, accepting more of the concentrated NaCl solutions. Both groups of rats ingested significantly more 2% NaCl solution than did normal sodium-replete rats during a subsequent 2-bottle drinking session. These results, together with previous findings, suggest that NaCl consumption by sodium-deficient rats is due to an increased drive for sodium. It is not clear, however, whether the present differences in NaCl acceptability between formalin-treated and adrenalectomized rats reflected different levels of sodium-deficiency elicited by the two procedures or some fundamental change in the gustatory system of rats produced only by adrenalectomy.