Effects of clonidine on self-selection of nutrients

A Richter cafeteria was used to probe the self-selection of separate macro- and micronutrients in animals injected with the alpha 2 agonist, clonidine. The most effective dose of clonidine (25 micrograms/kg) used by previous investigators with more limited nutrient offerings elicited increases in carbohydrate (1, 12, 36 hr) and vitamin A (36 hr) consumption, and decreases in salt consumption (1, 36 hr). Casein intake was depressed at 1 hour, but increased at 12 hr. A significant negative correlation between sucrose and oil intake lent statistical support to Richter's concept of "sucrose and oil burners." Other significant correlations indicated that physiological links between nutrients may underly their cooccurrence in an animal's diet.