Modification of salt-seeking behavior in the adrenalectomized rat via gamma-ray irradiation.

Abstract

Based on the potent effects of irradiation as a US in producing conditioned taste aversion to various foods, an attempt was made to establish a conditioned salt aversion in the adrenalectomized rat. The results indicate that pairing 300 r. of Co 60 with salt drinking will produce salt aversion (inhibition?) even under conditions of severe salt need. Although the aversion persisted statistically for about a week, by Day 7 the salt-irradiated Ss imbibed quantities of salt commensurate with controls. These Ss concomitantly gained weight and none died. The results are compared to a case of nonregulatory salt hunger in the adrenalectomized rat described earlier.

Effects of deprivation schedule on the maintenance of a preoperative salt aversion by adrenalectomized rats

“…Twenty-four-hour access alone, without the added stimulus of salt hunger is not sufficient to produce the extinction, since sham-adrenalectomized rats with ad lib salt will maintain a preoperatively conditioned sodium aversion for as long as 20 days (Cullen, 1969;Frumkin, 1971). These findings make the Cullen (1970) report, discussed in Experiment I, seem even more surprising, since his animals also had ad lib NaCI (vs a glucose solution) postoperatively.…”

“…In addition, they resemble an earlier study by Cullen (1969) in which rats, prior to adrenalectomy, received three exposures to radiation sickness while drinking NaCI. Postoperatively, Cullen's (1969) Ss, with an ad lib choice between saccharin and NaC!, demonstrated only a "short-lived" salt aversion. Within 7 days after adrenalectomy, his animals were gaining weight and drinking the same amount of salt as adrenalectomized controls.…”

Salt seeking by means of food and fluid selection in adrenalectomized rats

“…Rats in a free-choice situation prefer sodium chloride solution of various concentrations to tap water. The response of salt seeking following adrenalectomy is a highly reliable one, and will persist in spite of irradiation (Cullen, 1969), established sugar (Grimsley, 1970) or saccharine (Grimsley & Fisher, 1967) preference, and preoperative aversion to similar substances (Frumkin, 1971).Studies on salt seeking in rats when the salt was in food, not solution, have further explored the generality of this consummatory behavior. Fregly, Harper, and Radford (1965) studied the NaCI intake of salt-deprived rats when given a choice between distilled water and a solution while the salt content of the food was varied.…”

“…Rats in a free-choice situation prefer sodium chloride solution of various concentrations to tap water. The response of salt seeking following adrenalectomy is a highly reliable one, and will persist in spite of irradiation (Cullen, 1969), established sugar (Grimsley, 1970) or saccharine (Grimsley & Fisher, 1967) preference, and preoperative aversion to similar substances (Frumkin, 1971).…”

EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON THE BEHAVIOR OF ANIMALS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Appendix to 1972 Progress Report.

“…Hulse and Dempsy (1964) demonstrated a specific aversion to feeding in general in rats after they were exposed to 50 r x-radiation. Cullen (1969) produced salt-irradiation-induced aversion in rats under conditions of severe salt need. The aversion lasted about a week at which time the experimental animals took salt in quantities equivalent to controls.…”