Interaction between deoxycorticosterone treatment, fluid intake, sodium consumption, blood pressure, and organ changes in rats drinking water, saline, or sucrose solution

Abstract

Intact control and DOCA-treated rats were allowed to drink distilled water, a 1% NaCl solution, or a 5% sucrose solution. Fluid intake, blood pressure changes, and organoleptic responses were evaluated. Control rats drank more sucrose solution than saline and more saline than water. Hormone treatment slightly increased water intake and greatly augmented saline consumption, but invariably depressed that of sucrose solution even though a considerable polydipsia remained in effect. Hypertension and cardiorenal enlargement characterized all groups given DOCA. Both were substantially more severe in those also given excess salt, and only in that group were cardiovascular–renal lesions grossly visible.