Behavioral patterns associated with water intake in normal and septal rats.

Abstract

Observed 14 male Holtzman rats during a 1-hr period of access to water and food following 23 or 47 hr. of water deprivation. Sustained drinking lasted less than 6 min. followed by grooming. Within 10 min. following exposure to the water and after consuming approximately 3 ml/100 gm of body weight (about 60% of their total 1-hr intake), Ss began to eat. Data suggest that the inhibition of food intake (resulting from the need to defend the body water balance) was released very quickly following access to water. Septal lesions did not influence this form of inhibition, but produced more rapid adaptation to novel drinking situations as well as the usual enhancement of avoidance responding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)