Hepatic vagotomy does not disrupt the normal satiation of NaCl appetite

The necessity of the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve for the normal satiation of NaCl intake under the condition of sodium depletion was tested. Sham- or hepatic-vagotomized male, Long-Evans rats were sodium depleted by injection with Lasix (furosemide, 10 mg) and were maintained overnight on sodium-deficient diet and water. The intake of 0.3 M NaCl during a 2-h salt appetite test was not significantly different between the sham- and hepatic-vagotomized groups. In a second group of sham- or hepatic-vagotomized rats, a load of 7.5 ml of 0.5 M NaCl was given by gavage at 15 or 90 min prior to a 1-h NaCl appetite test. The preload decreased NaCl intake equivalently in both groups. Gastric emptying of a preload of NaCl at 15 and 90 min was also the same for sham- and hepatic-vagotomized rats. Thus, the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve is not necessary for the normal short-term satiation of NaCl intake under the condition of acute sodium depletion produced by furosemide.