Aldosterone increases the amiloride-sensitivity of the rat gustatory neural response to NaCl.

1. The percentage inhibition of the chorda tympani neural response to NaCl by topical application of amiloride to the tongue was significantly larger in rats pretreated with aldosterone than in control animals. 2. Adrenalectomized rats pretreated with aldosterone had significantly larger amiloride-induced inhibitions to a NaCl stimulus than did adrenalectomized control animals. 3. These data suggest that aldosterone may increase the number of active amiloride-sensitive sodium channels in the apical membrane of taste cells, as is known to occur in sodium transporting tissues of amphibians and mammals. They additionally represent a previously unnoticed hormonal influence over the gustatory system.