Stress and salt appetite

Abstract

Many mammals develop an urge to ingest salt (NaCl), that is, salt appetite, in response to sodium depletion. As well, physical or psychological stresses have been shown to cause an increased intake of NaCl in rabbits, mice, and rats. Hormonal signals may mediate stress-induced salt appetite because animals treated with the stress hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) also increase NaCl intake. Adrenal steroids mediate ACTH-induced salt appetite because it is prevented by bilateral adrenalectomy and is reproduced by treatment with a combination of corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, and aldosterone. Salt appetite in humans is less well-defined compared with many other animal species and..