The neural substrates of enhanced salt appetite after repeated sodium depletions
- 26 September 2007
- journal article
- Published by Elsevier BV in Brain Research
- Vol. 1171, 104-110
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2007.07.033
Abstract
Sodium appetite is associated with a form of behavioral plasticity in which animals experimentally depleted of sodium progressively increase their intake of hypertonic NaCl over several successive (on 2 to 4 occasions) depletion. The present experiment explored the nature of this plasticity by quantifying Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) in structures implicated in the mediation of sodium appetite and in the signaling of reward. Rats were depleted of sodium with the diuretic furosemide three times (3F), one time (2V1F) or sham depleted (i.e., vehicle treated; 3V). Rats were given sodium appetite tests for the first two treatments. The sodium appetite test was omitted after the third treatment. Fos-ir activity was quantified in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), subfornical organ (SFO), supraoptic nucleus (SON), nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core, basolateral (BLA) and central amygdala (CeA), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Animals receiving repeated sodium depletions increased sodium ingestion across initial depletions. Fos-ir activity was markedly enhanced in the SFO, BLA, and shell of the NAc of 3F rats relative to 2V1F and 3V animals. These results indicate that repeated experience with sodium depletion and ingestion affects both behavioral and neural responses to sodium. Experience with sodium depletion enhances its ingestion and may have a direct impact on central structures implicated in sodium appetite and reward signaling.Keywords
This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit:
- Hedonic Hot Spot in Nucleus Accumbens Shell: Where Do μ-Opioids Cause Increased Hedonic Impact of Sweetness?Journal of Neuroscience, 2005
- Enhancement revisited: the effects of multiple depletions on sodium intake in rats vary with strain, substrain, and genderPhysiology & Behavior, 2004
- Brain Reward CircuitryNeuron, 2002
- Acute sodium deficit triggers plasticity of the brain angiotensin type 1 receptorsThe FASEB Journal, 2002
- Salt appetite is enhanced by one prior episode of sodium depletion in the rat.Behavioral Neuroscience, 1987
- Physiological Role of PleasureScience, 1971
- Acquisition of sodium by rats: Interaction of innate mechanisms and latent learning.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1968
- Role of experience in relationship between sodium deficiency and rate of bar pressing for salt.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1967
- Serial sodium depletion and NaCl solution intakePhysiology & Behavior, 1966
- Specific appetite for NaCl without postingestional repletion.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1961