Limitations to the specificity of NaCl appetite in sodium-depleted rats.

Abstract

Rats were depleted of body sodium by intraperitoneal dialysis (IPD) and the specificity of the NaCl appetite was tested against KC1 solutions. In a post-IPD choice between water and .3 [image] KCl, KCl intake increased after a 2nd dialysis. Post-IPD choice between 3% NaCl and .3 [image] KCl, which were of approximate equal pre-IPD acceptability, yielded no preference difference in group data. When offered .50 [image] NaCl and .51 [image] KC1. with no attempt to control pre-IPD acceptability, post-IPD choice strongly favored the NaCl solution. The specificity of the NaCl appetite depends upon the relative base-line acceptability of the solutions offered.