Influence of adrenal steroid hormones on sodium appetite of Balb/c mice.

The effects of adrenal steroid hormones on sodium appetite were determined in female Balb/c mice by the subcutaneous implantation for 7 days of slow-release pellets containing aldosterone, corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone (DOC) or 11-deoxycortisol, separately or in a "cocktail" combination. Placebo pellets were also implanted. The daily intake of 0.3 M NaCl was increased for 2 days by aldosterone (calculated 2.9 micrograms/day released) or corticosterone (240 micrograms/day) and for 7 days by DOC (4.8 micrograms/day). The combination of these steroids plus 11-deoxycortisol (95 micrograms/day) increased daily sodium intake nine-fold (days 3-7) and also increased water intake 1.5-fold. Placebo pellets had small effects on water intake on three days. Subcutaneous infusion of ACTH (Synacthen) at 2.8 micrograms/day for 7 days by mini-osmotic pump increased sodium intake five-fold and water intake three- or four-fold. Thus, several adrenal steroids evoked sodium appetite in Balb/c mice, DOC being the most potent at the doses used. The effects of individual steroids are consistent with their contribution to the effect of ACTH on sodium appetite.