These brain cells only make mice want salt—not water or food—and don’t affect how much they move around.

Scientific Claim

In sodium-depleted mice, the activation of pre-locus coeruleus prodynorphin neurons is selective for sodium appetite and does not influence water intake, food intake, or general locomotion under the tested conditions.

Original Statement

“Sodium consumption required concurrent stimulation... appetite was sodium specific... photoinhibition of pre-LCPDYN neurons selectively reduced sodium consumption... chemogenetic inhibition reduced sodium intake... did not affect thirst (n = 9 mice).”

From study:Chemosensory modulation of neural circuits for sodium appetite

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The study includes multiple control conditions (water, food, locomotion) with precise neural manipulations, demonstrating selective effects on sodium intake, justifying definitive language in the mouse model.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Chemosensory modulation of neural circuits for sodium appetite

Cohort Study

Animal

2019 Apr

The study found that a specific group of brain cells in mice only makes them crave salt—not water, food, or movement—when they’re low on sodium.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Chemosensory modulation of neural circuits for sodium appetite

Score: 12

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1053-2

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