Na deficiency and other physiological influences on voluntary Na intake of BALB/c mice
Denton, D.; McBurnie, M.; Ong, F.; Osborne, P.; Tarjan, E.
American Journal of Physiology 255(6 Pt 2): R1025-R1034
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 3202218 Document Number: 322080
BALB/c mice exhibited a small hedonic intake of 0.3 M sodium chloride, which was not influenced by change from high- to low-salt diet or by withholding access to NaCl solution for 1 day. Na deficiency produced by furosemide injection consistently caused a highly significant increase in Na intake. Na deficiency was corrected rapidly during 10 min. The appetite was specific for Na in a cafeteria experiment and was exhibited by naive mice on the first experience of Na deficiency and subsequent access to salt. The appetite was significantly related to the extent of body deficit, but overdrinking proportionate to initial deficit was characteristic. No increase in Na intake occurred with repeated experience of Na deficit. Water deprivation caused a subsequent increase of Na intake. Total deprivation of food for 48 h caused a large sustained increase of Na intake, but reduction of food intake by 40% did not influence Na appetite.