Together intracranial angiotensin and systemic mineralocorticoid produce avidity for salt in the rat.

Rats that have no need for sodium will run to small rewards of 3% NaCl solution in a runway after they have been treated with both a mineralocorticoid and angiotensin II. When given alone at the low doses used here, neither the mineralocorticoid nor the angiotensin produce the behavior. This result encourages the idea that it is a synergy of the hormones of sodium conservation, angiotensin and aldosterone, that apprises the brain of the need for salt and generates the appetite for the taste of salt.