title: Interaction of Vasopressin and Splenda on Glucose Metabolism and Long-term Preferences under Ad-libitum and Food-restricted Conditions.
abstract: Previous research has demonstrated that vasopressin-containing rats are capable of adapting to the stress of food restriction; whereas, vasopressin-deficient rats cannot adapt to this stressor. In the present study, the value of using a low-calorie (Splenda) or no-calorie (Equal) artificial sweetener to reverse the deleterious effects of food restriction in vasopressin-deficient rats was examined. In association with this effect, the role of vasopressin in long-term preferences for the two artificial sweeteners was studied. Vasopressin-deficient, Brattleboro (DI) rats and vasopressin-containing, Long-Evans (LE) rats underwent an habituation phase during which they had ad-libitum access to food. This was followed by an experimental phase during which the rats were divided into four groups. (1) DI rats continued with ad-libitum feeding, (2) LE rats continued with ad-libitum feeding, (3) DI rats subjected to 23 h of food restriction, and (4) LE rats subjected to 23 h of food restriction. All rats had ad-libitum access to an 8% Splenda solution, a 1% Equal solution, and water throughout both phases of the experiment. The deleterious effects of food restriction were completely reversed in DI rats, including survival, no stomach pathology, and normal plasma levels of glucose and urea nitrogen.
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Psychology and Biology , John Carroll University , Cleveland , OH 44118 , USA.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Psychology and Biology , John Carroll University , Cleveland , OH 44118 , USA.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wideman
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Psychology and Biology , John Carroll University , Cleveland , OH 44118 , USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cleary
keywords: Equal; Food restriction; Metabolism; Preference; Splenda; Vasopressin