Effects of sodium depletion on detection thresholds for salty taste in rats

Previous studies, which have mostly focused on concentrated NaCl solution intake, have suggested sodium depletion may be accompanied with salt taste sensory changes. To further investigate whether the function of the salt taste system changes in different patterns for highly concentrated and diluted NaCl taste stimuli, the effects of sodium depletion on NaCl taste detection threshold in rats were examined. After a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) to a suprathreshold concentration of NaCl (0.1 M) was established, rats were given a series of two-bottle choice tests between distilled water and different concentrations of NaCl. Conditioned rats will generalize the aversion to diluted solutions when they are detected. The taste detection threshold for NaCl is defined as the lowest concentration at which there is a reliable difference in the preference scores between conditioned and control subjects. The results showed that detection threshold for NaCl lay between 0.003 M and 0.005 M in sodium-replete rats, whereas in sodium-depleted rats that have an amplified action of angiotensin II in the brain, the threshold significantly decreased to be between 0.0001 M and 0.0003 M. However, in rats with a blocked action of angiotensin II in the brain the decreased NaCl detection threshold was between 0.001 M and 0.003 M. These findings suggest that sodium-depleted rats could decrease the NaCl taste detection threshold to increase the ability to find sodium ions. And the regulation of the salt taste sensitivity may be related to the action of angiotensin II in brain.