Effects of phenobarbital on saccharin and citric acid intake in fluid deprived rats.

Rats were adapted to a 23 hr fluid deprivation schedule. Every third day animals were offered either 0.125 percent Na saccharin or 0.2 percent citric acid solutions in place of water during the 1 hr drinking session. Sodium phenobarbital was administered subcutaneously, 40 mg/kg, 15 min prior to drinking. Results indicate that the drug increases saccharin and citric acid consumption following the injections. No decreases in intakes of saccharin and citric acid occurred on subsequent postdrug days and the amounts of fluid consumed on these days were comparable to the baseline predrug days intakes.