Effect of water temperature on isoproterenol-induced water intake.

SummaryWhen female rats were administered the β-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol (25 μg/kg body weight, s.c.), and allowed access to water at 6.0, 10.5, 25.0, 29.6, 35.8 and 39.3°, to drink, increasing amounts of water were ingested during the 1 hr test period as water temperature increased up to 29.6°. Water intake decreased when water at temperatures higher than this was offered. A similar increase in water intake with increasing water temperature was also observed in untreated control rats. Thus, the effect of water temperature on water intake was not a function of the thirst induced by administration of isoproterenol but is a characteristic of normally hydrated rats.