Dietary self-selection in normal and diabetic rats after gastric loads of pure macronutrients.

Rats which were experimentally diabetic (streptozotocin, 45 or 70 mg/kg, or pancreatectomized) and their nondiabetic controls were allowed to select ad lib from three pure macronutrient sources of carbohydrate (CHO), protein, and fat. After full adaptation, the intakes were examined 2, 4, 6, and 24 hr following an intragastric load given at the end of the daytime. Noncaloric (control) or isocaloric loads of CHO or protein or fat were studied. Fat loads suppressed subsequent fat intake reasonably selectively; CHO and protein loads suppressed the intake of the corresponding macronutrient, but less selectively. There were no major qualitative differences between diabetic and nondiabetic rats.