Rhesus monkeys were offered sodium chloride (NaCI) in various concentrations before and during the imposition of a dietary sodium deficiency. No evidence of a preference-aversion curve for NaCI appeared, providing support for the "dilute-water" hypothesis explaining sodium preference-aversion curves in rats. (Rhesus monkeys have separate sensory channels for water and salt, while rats have a combined water-salt sensory channel.) Although urinary and serum sodium levels were reduced during the period of sodium deficiency, there was no increase in the voluntary ingestion of NaCI during deficiency. However, three separate behavioral and physiological adaptations to sodium deficiency appeared among the monkeys.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract