Palatability profile in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) have enhanced palatability for NaCl taste as measured by the increased number of hedonic versus aversive responses to intraoral infusion (1 mL/1 min) of 0.3 M NaCl, in a taste reactivity test in euhydrated condition or after 24 h of water deprivation + 2 h of partial rehydration (WD-PR). SHRs also ingested more sucrose than normotensive rats, without differences in quinine hydrochloride intake. Here, we investigated the palatability of SHRs (n = 8-10) and normotensive Holtzman rats (n = 8-10) to sucrose and quinine sulphate infused intraorally in the same conditions that NaCl palatability was increased in SHRs. SHRs had similar number of hedonic responses to 2% sucrose in euhydrated condition (95 ± 19) or after WD-PR (142 ± 25), responses increased when compared with normotensive rats in euhydrated condition (13 ± 3) or after WD-PR (21 ± 6). SHRs also showed increased number of aversive responses to 1.4 mM quinine sulphate compared with normotensive rats, whether in euhydrated condition (86 ± 6, vs. normotensive: 54 ± 7) or after WD-PR (89 ± 9, vs. normotensive: 40 ± 9). The results suggest that similar to NaCl taste, sweet taste responses are increased in SHRs and resistant to challenges in bodily fluid balance. They also showed a more intense aversive response in SHRs to bitter taste compared with normotensives. This suggests that the enhanced response of SHRs to taste rewards does not correspond to a decreased response to a typical aversive taste.

Rapid onset sodium appetite and orofacial responses to intraoral capsaicin and hypertonic NaCl in the rat.

Sodium appetite reverts from aversive to hedonic the orofacial responses to intraoral hypertonic NaCl in a taste reactivity test (TRT). An electrophysiological-based hypothesis suggests that aversion to salty taste results from oral nociception (e.g., like that produced by intraoral capsaicin). In the present work, we used the TRT to investigate whether sodium appetite and its sensitization produce similar effects on the orofacial responses to the intraoral infusion of either capsaicin or hypertonic NaCl. We produced rapid onset sodium appetite by subcutaneous injection of furosemide combined with a low dose of captopril (Furo/Cap) in adult rats instrumented with intraoral cannula. Then, the animals had 1-h free access to water (thirst test). Immediately after, they entered the TRT receiving a first intraoral infusion (1 ml for a total of 1 min) of (0.5 µM) capsaicin and, 20 min later, a second one of (0.3 M) NaCl. The sequence, Furo/Cap injection - thirst test - TRT, was repeated twice more every three days. The repetition of the Furo/Cap increased the frequency of hedonic responses, decreased the frequency of aversive responses, and increased the hedonic:neutral response ratio to NaCl. The repetition of Furo/Cap reduced transiently the neutral orofacial responses and ended decreasing the aversive:neutral response ratio to capsaicin. The results suggest that repeated Furo/Cap sensitizes the palatability of hypertonic NaCl. They also suggest that sensitization of sodium appetite involves increased sodium "liking". Finally yet importantly, we found that sensitization of sodium appetite can influence orofacial responses to capsaicin. Rapid onset sodium appetite and orofacial responses to intraoral capsaicin and hypertonic NaCl in the rat.