Effects of chorda tympani transection on long-term salt preference in hamsters.

The effects of denervation of fungiform taste buds on preference behavior were studied. Presurgery, 0.01, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 M NaCl, and 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 M KCl were strongly avoided relative to water as measured with 48-h intakes. Bilateral cuts of the chorda tympani nerve (CT) resulted in a decrease in the strength of aversions to all concentrations of NaCl and to 0.2 and 0.4 M KCl. Only 0.4 M NaCl and KCl were strongly avoided after CT section. After CT section, when the animals were allowed to choose between equimolar (0.1 or 0.2 M) KCl and NaCl, they drank equal amounts, whereas intact hamsters preferred KCl to NaCl. In golden hamsters, unlike most laboratory rat strains, intake-based long-term preference behavior for salts is significantly affected by selective gustatory deafferentation.