Further studies on salt appetite following lateral hypothalamic lesions: effects of preoperative alimentary experiences.

Lateral hypothalamic lesions impair salt appetite, but rats with lesions show enhanced saline ingestion following natrorexigenic treatments if given preoperative salt drive experiences. In this study, the preoperative drive to ingest salt (without the consummatory experience of saline ingestion) was found to be necessary for this effect. Exposure to saline, or the treatments of water deprivation or insulin-induced feeding, when given preoperatively were not protective.