EFFECT OF HIGH-ALTITUDE HYPOXIA ON FEEDING RESPONSES AND HEDONIC MATRIX IN RATS

Albino male rats (n = 78) were exposed to a simulated high altitude (H A) equivalent to 7,620 m for 6 h daily, contiguously for a period of 2 1 days, to study their feeding behavior and gustatory responses. Their food, water intake, and body weight were recorded daily, and blood su gar and blood insulin were estimated once a week. All the parameters w ere recorded for a period of 3 wk each before, during, and after expos ure to simulated HA. The results show a decrease in daily food and wat er intakes and body weight and mild hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia during hypoxic exposure. The 1-h single-bottle taste solution test sh owed a preference for sweet solutions (13% glucose and 0.2% saccharine ) over citric acid (0.16%), sodium chloride (0.9%), and quinine sulfat e (0.001%) during exposure to simulated HA. The 1-h two-bottle test co ntaining glucose (calories plus taste) and saccharine (taste but no ca lories) administration showed a preference for the glucose solution ov er the saccharine solution. The trend of the 1-h intake of all test so lutions also showed a reversal to preexposure levels after termination of HA hypoxia. It would appear that high-altitude stress influences f ood intake in a manner that sensory cues (e.g., preference for sweet s ubstances) become more important.