INCREASED SODIUM CHLORIDE AND WATER INTAKE OF NORMAL RATS TREATED WITH DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE1

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Abstract
Eight normal [male] rats, given free access to a salt-poor diet, a 3% soln. of NaCl, a 1% soln. of KCl, and tap water, showed an approx. 7-fold increase in appetite for the Na soln. when given daily injs. of 2-4 mg. of desoxycorticosterone acetate. 4 rats on a salt-poor diet and tap water showed no increased thirst when treated with the adrenal cortical hormone, but showed a more than 3-fold increase in fluid intake when the tap water was replaced by a 1% soln. of NaCl. 4 rats given access to a high-salt food (5% added NaCl) and tap water showed approx. a 50% increase in water intake when given daily injs. of 2.5 mg. of desoxycorticosterone acetate, while 4 control rats on a salt-poor diet and tap water showed no increase in thirst. On the basis of these data it is suggested that the primary effect of desoxycorticosterone administration in normal rats is an increased salt need, resulting in an increased salt appetite. It is further suggested that the polydipsia of animals treated with desoxycorticosterone acetate on a high-salt intake is a direct consequence of the latter rather than a manifestation of a primary effect on water metabolism.