EFFECTS OF PHENOBARBITAL ON SACCHARIN AND CITRIC-ACID INTAKE IN FLUID DEPRIVED RATS

Rats were adapted to a 23 h fluid deprivation schedule. Every 3rd day animals were offered either 0.125% Na saccharin or 0.2% citric acid solutions in place of water during the 1 h drinking session. Sodium phenobarbital was administered s.c. 40 mg/kg, 15 min prior to drinking. The drug increases saccharin and citric acid consumption following the injections. No decreases in intakes of saccharin and citric acid occurred on subsequent postdrug days and the amounts of fluid consumed on these days were comparable to the baseline predrug intakes.