Release of feeding by the sweet taste in rats: Oropharyngeal satiety

In rats which are hungry but not thirsty, the intake of a saccharin solution occurs in discrete “meals”, and oropharyngeal factors can initiate, and also terminate, a “meal” under these special conditions.

Abstract

In rats which are hungry but not thirsty, the intake of a saccharin solution occurs in discrete "meals". We show that the control of meal size in this case is exclusively oropharyngeal. The augmentation of postingestive factors has no effect on meal size or on intake pattern. This is true whether they are augmented during the intake period by concurrent injections, or prior to it by gavage. Therefore, oropharyngeal factors such as taste can initiate, and also terminate, a "meal" under these special conditions.