Just turning on the salt-craving brain cells doesn't make mice eat salt fast—unless you also trigger the angiotensin signal, then they immediately start licking salt like crazy.

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Aldosterone-Sensing Neurons in the NTS Exhibit State-Dependent Pacemaker Activity and Drive Sodium Appetite via Synergy with Angiotensin II Signaling.

Cohort Study

Animal

2017 Sep 27

The study found that mice only quickly crave salt when two signals are active at once: one from brain cells that sense aldosterone and another from a hormone called angiotensin II. Neither signal alone makes them eat salt fast — they need both together.

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Source Study

Aldosterone-Sensing Neurons in the NTS Exhibit State-Dependent Pacemaker Activity and Drive Sodium Appetite via Synergy with Angiotensin II Signaling.

Score: 11

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.014

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