Sodium consumption following lesions surrounding the anteroventral third ventricle

Consumption of sodium solution was measured in rats with lesions of the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) and maintained on sodium deficient chow. Rats with AV3V lesions consumed less sodium than control animals, and increased their sodium consumption following a subcutaneous injection of Formalin. These data indicate that the AV3V ablation alters the nature of the regulatory control of sodium but does not render animals insensitive to plasma sodium levels.