Biomaterial Database

Sodium appetite after transection of the chorda tympani nerve in Wistar and Fischer 344 rats. 1992

S I Sollars, and I L Bernstein

Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.

Acute sodium depletion in rats leads to dramatic increases in intake of hypertonic NaCl solutions, a behavior known as sodium appetite. The importance of signals conveyed by the chorda tympani (CT) nerve to the expression of sodium appetite is unclear. We examined the effects of bilateral CT transection on the short- and long-term response to sodium depletion in Wistar and Fischer 344 (F344) rat strains, because Wistar rats normally display a NaCl preference in the absence of need whereas F344 rats avoid NaCl. In both strains, sodium appetite after CT transection and treatment with the diuretic furosemide was delayed and blunted or eliminated. The results suggest that signals conveyed by the CT nerve are important in the expression of a sodium appetite. Effects on F344 rats are particularly interesting because CT transection surgery appears to have opposite effects on NaCl intake depending on whether F344 rats are sodium replete or deplete.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D011916	Rats, Inbred F344	An inbred strain of rat that is used for general BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH purposes.	Fischer Rats,Rats, Inbred CDF,Rats, Inbred Fischer 344,Rats, F344,Rats, Inbred Fisher 344,CDF Rat, Inbred,CDF Rats, Inbred,F344 Rat,F344 Rat, Inbred,F344 Rats,F344 Rats, Inbred,Inbred CDF Rat,Inbred CDF Rats,Inbred F344 Rat,Inbred F344 Rats,Rat, F344,Rat, Inbred CDF,Rat, Inbred F344,Rats, Fischer
D002814	Chorda Tympani Nerve	A branch of the facial (7th cranial) nerve which passes through the middle ear and continues through the petrotympanic fissure. The chorda tympani nerve carries taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and conveys parasympathetic efferents to the salivary glands.	Chorda Tympani Nerves,Nerve, Chorda Tympani,Nerves, Chorda Tympani,Tympani Nerve, Chorda,Tympani Nerves, Chorda
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001066	Appetite	Natural recurring desire for food. Alterations may be induced by APPETITE DEPRESSANTS or APPETITE STIMULANTS.	Appetite Alterations,Alteration, Appetite,Alterations, Appetite,Appetite Alteration,Appetites
D012982	Sodium, Dietary	Sodium or sodium compounds used in foods or as a food. The most frequently used compounds are sodium chloride or sodium glutamate.	Dietary Sodium
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D013650	Taste Buds	Small sensory organs which contain gustatory receptor cells, basal cells, and supporting cells. Taste buds in humans are found in the epithelia of the tongue, palate, and pharynx. They are innervated by the CHORDA TYMPANI NERVE (a branch of the facial nerve) and the GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NERVE.	Bud, Taste,Buds, Taste,Taste Bud
D014882	Water-Electrolyte Balance	The balance of fluid in the BODY FLUID COMPARTMENTS; total BODY WATER; BLOOD VOLUME; EXTRACELLULAR SPACE; INTRACELLULAR SPACE, maintained by processes in the body that regulate the intake and excretion of WATER and ELECTROLYTES, particularly SODIUM and POTASSIUM.	Fluid Balance,Electrolyte Balance,Balance, Electrolyte,Balance, Fluid,Balance, Water-Electrolyte,Water Electrolyte Balance
D017208	Rats, Wistar	A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain.	Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats