Increased hunger and thirst during glucoprivation in humans

Abstract Five male volunteers received two intravenous infusions of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) and one of normal saline. Hunger and thirst ratings, solid-food and water intake, and plasma epinephrine and glucose levels were greater after both of the 2DG infusions than after the saline infusion. This study suggests that the increase in water intake caused by 2DG does not depend on elevated hunger, and demonstrates that increased caloric intake after 2DG infusions is not dependent on greater thirst. Behavioral and adrenomedullary responses to both 2DG infusions were qualitatively and quantitatively the same, suggesting that there are no residual effects of 2DG that diminish the ability of the subjects to respond to glucoprivation. Measurements of possible thirst stimuli revealed no clear mechanism for the dipsogenic effect of 2DG.