Abstract
A two-bottle free choice method was employed to investigate the water and 3% NaCl solution intake in rats of both sexes from the age of 30 days to adulthood. No sex difference was observed until the period of sexual maturation was reached. From that time on females drank more of the salt solution than males; the sex difference was apparent also in the NaCl concentration in total fluids consumed. These sexual differences existed also in adult rats which had been gonadectomised at the age of 10 days. After the free choice experiment was completed, the total RNA content in cells of hypothalamus and hippocampus of adult males and diestrous females was investigated. In females no effect of increased salt intake was seen. In males increased salt intake was associated with increased RNA content in all cells investigated. The role of the hypothalamus in sexual differentiation of salt intake is discussed.
Published Version
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