Cholinergic Substrate for Drinking in the Rat

Abstract

Literature on the phenomenon of cholinergically elicited drinking is reviewed. Data are presented supporting the cholinergic specificity of the drinking elicited by carbachol. The mechanism responsible for the cholinergic induction of drinking does not appear identical to that responsible for “natural thirst” or drinking produced by other artificial means. The data support a diffuse limbic system distribution of the cholinergic drinking substrate and are inconsistent with the “ventricular or fiber diffusion hypotheses.” Possible mechanisms responsible for cholinergic drinking in the rat and the lack of phylogenetic generality are also discussed.