AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 251, Issue 6 1095-R1102, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Hepatic contribution to satiation of salt appetite in rats

M. G. Tordoff, J. Schulkin and M. I. Friedman

We examined the influence of hepatic-portal vein infusion of NaCl and of hepatic vagotomy on 3% NaCl solution drinking by sodium-deficient rats. Combined dietary sodium restriction and administration of the natriuretic agent, furosemide (5 mg), produced a vigorous appetite for 3% NaCl solution that was attenuated by portal infusion of NaCl. Whereas infusions (1 ml/30 min) of NaCl into the hepatic-portal vein in concentrations as low as 0.15 M (isotonic) significantly reduced 3% NaCl consumption, a higher concentration (0.6 M) infused into the jugular vein, or portal infusions of KCl (0.6 M) or sucrose (1.2 M), were ineffective. Rats with selective hepatic vagotomy displayed an attenuated appetite for salt whether or not they received hepatic-portal NaCl. This was not due to altered excretion of sodium. Taken together, these results suggest that the liver or portal vein can provide a sodium-specific neural signal capable of attenuating the appetite for salt and this information is transferred to the brain by fibers in the hepatic vagus that fire in reciprocal relationship with portal sodium concentration.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Godino, L. A. De Luca Jr., J. Antunes-Rodrigues, and L. Vivas Oxytocinergic and serotonergic systems involvement in sodium intake regulation: satiety or hypertonicity markers? Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): R1027 - R1036. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Stricker, M. A. Bushey, M. L. Hoffmann, M. McGhee, A. M. Cason, and J. C. Smith Inhibition of NaCl appetite when DOCA-treated rats drink saline Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2007; 292(1): R652 - R662. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]