BEHAVIORAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO NACL IN YOUNG AND OLD FISCHER-344 RATS

This study compared both behavioral and electrophysiological responses to NaCl in young and old Fischer-344 rats. These comparisons were mad e in the same individuals. Preference for NaCl solutions versus water was assessed using two-bottle preference tests. The integrated respons e of the chorda tympani nerve to NaCl was recorded. NaCl neural-respon se magnitude arid corresponding behavioral sensitivity appear to decre ase with age in the Fischer-344 rat at concentrations greater-than-or- equal-to 0.15 M and neural-response magnitudes increase at lower conce ntrations.