VASOPRESSIN, GLUCOSE-HOMEOSTASIS, AND SUCROSE TASTE PREFERENCES

Previous research indicates that vasopressin-containing (LE) rats are capable of adapting to the stress of food restriction, whereas vasopre ssin-deficient (DI) rats cannot adapt to this stressor. It has been po stulated that abnormalities in glucose metabolism may be one of the fa ctors leading to the demise of food-restricted DI rats. The present st udy was conducted to determine if taste preferences are altered in DI animals and if the presentation of exogenous glucose, in the form of s ucrose solutions, can ameliorate the effects of the stress of food res triction. Four different concentrations of sucrose solutions were pres ented to LE and DI rats under the food-restricted condition. In both s trains, an 8% sucrose solution was preferred over 0%, 16%, and 32% con centrations, with DI rats consuming more of this concentration than LE rats. Thus, when DI rats had the opportunity of maintaining glucose h omeostasis by exogenous supplements, they maintained body weight, disp layed no stomach pathology, and survived.