Saline Drinking Effects on Food and Water Intake in Rats

Abstract

19 female albino rats were water and food deprived for 24 hr. and given nothing, water, 0.9% (isotonic) saline or 1.8% saline for 2 hr. During the second hour powdered food was provided. During the third hour Ss were given water and food. Hourly intake of liquids and food was recorded. Ss were then given water and food for 21 hr. until the next deprivation and experimental session was begun. 1.8% saline elicited the least food intake but was greater than expected based on the inhibitory effect of dehydration on eating. The isotonic saline group ate more than the nothing group. Drinking responses, per se, facilitated eating. During the third hour water intake, the 1.8% saline group drank less water than the nothing group, although the 1.8% group was expected to have been more dehydrated. This was attributed mainly to the inhibitory effect of drinking responses on subsequent drinking. It was concluded that dehydration exerts major effects on eating and drinking behavior and that drinking responses and stomach-loading variables also affect eating and drinking.