The ontogeny of salt appetite aroused by depletion in the rat.

The emergence of the rat's ability to respond behaviorally to a bodily sodium deficit was examined. Sucklings were depleted of bodily sodium by furosemide injections and their ability to replenish sodium by imbibing 3% NaCl solution was measured at different ages. The results suggest that the appetite for salt, as a response to sodium deficit, matures at weaning age.