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Sodium Appetite and the Oestrous Cycle in Sheep: Effect of Oestrogen, Progesterone and Changes in Food Intake
Author(s) -
Michell A. R.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology and cognate medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0033-5541
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1980.sp002489
Subject(s) - estrous cycle , endocrinology , medicine , hormone , appetite , ovariectomized rat , sodium , food intake , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Previous studies of voluntary sodium intake and electrolyte excretion in sheep suggested that the pattern of intake associated with the oestrous cycle was not a response to alterations in sodium balance. The pattern thus seemed likely to be dictated by changes in either hormonal levels or food intake. These possibilities were examined in experiments with ovariectomized sheep. Physiological doses of oestrogen or progesterone had no effect on sodium preference, whether given in isolation or succession. Depression of food intake by 25% (as at oestrus) did affect preference slightly (though significantly) but in the opposite direction to the change at oestrus. It is concluded that none of these 3 factors is responsible for the varying sodium preference during the oestrous cycle and that direct hypothalamic control of this pattern is an interesting possibility.