In order to study the role of peripheral taste sensitivity in mediating increases in salt intake of the rat, the effects of sodium deprivation and adrenalectomy on chorda tympani nerve responses to taste stimulation were determined. Sodium deprivation resulted in a reduction in whole nerve responsivity to suprathreshold NaCl concentrations requiring a 10-fold increase in concentration to elicit the same neural signal of control preparations. Salt intake of sodium deprived rats was predicted by adjusting data in a 10-min intake test from control rats for the reduced neural signal and lower salivary sodium levels of sodium deprived rats. The whole nerve responses to LiCl and KCl, as well as to NaCl, were reduced after sodium deprivation and adrenalectomy. The multifiber response of the chorda tympani is comprised of the individual responses of NaCl sensitive N-best fibers and HCl/NaCl sensitive H-best fibers. After sodium deprivation N-best fibers' responses to suprathreshold concentrations of NaCl were reduced; H-best fibers' responses were not affected by sodium deprivation. Future studies will determine the effect of KCl and other salts on responses of N-best and H-best fibers. Applying Beidler's biophysical model to the single fiber data suggests that sodium deprivation influences receptor mechanisms for NaCl of N-best fibers and not H-best fibers. Because repeated NaCl stimulation resulted in increased chorda tympani responsivity to NaCl, we suggest that sodium deprivation may alter the salt receptor simply by disuse. Altered receptor sensitivity may be an adaptive mechanism to influence salt consumption by a shift in suprathreshold NaCl intensity.