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Magnesium appetite in the rat.
Stuart A McCaughey1, Michael G Tordoff
1Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. mccaughey@monell.org
Appetite
|March 9, 2002
Summary
Magnesium deprivation triggers a specific appetite for magnesium in rats, indicating distinct taste preferences for essential minerals. This compensatory behavior suggests innate gustatory factors influence mineral intake regulation.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
- Mineral Metabolism
Background:
- Rats regulate intake of minerals like sodium and calcium.
- The impact of magnesium deficiency on ingestive behavior is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of magnesium deprivation on the ingestion of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and other solutions in rats.
- To determine if magnesium appetite is distinct from calcium appetite.
Main Methods:
- Rats were fed either a complete or magnesium-deficient diet.
- Ingestive behavior was measured using two-bottle or three-bottle choice tests with various solutions (MgCl2, CaCl2, NaCl, HCl, saccharin) and water.
- Intake was recorded over 24 hours, with initial measurements taken within the first hour.
Main Results:
- Magnesium-deprived rats showed significantly increased intake of MgCl2 and CaCl2 solutions compared to replete rats within minutes.
- In a three-bottle choice, magnesium-deprived rats preferred MgCl2, while calcium-deprived rats preferred CaCl2.
- The study demonstrated a compensatory appetite for magnesium following deprivation.
Conclusions:
- Magnesium deprivation induces a specific appetite for magnesium.
- Appetites for magnesium and calcium are distinct and specific.
- The rapid onset of magnesium appetite suggests a role for innate gustatory mechanisms.