QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Scott, E. M. Articles by Quint, E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Scott, E. M. Articles by Quint, E.

Self Selection of Diet

IV. Appetite for Protein¹

Two Figures

Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh

When rats were offered their choice of sucrose, hydrogenated fat, salt mixture, and a protein, approximately the same proportion of animals refused to eat the protein if it was casein, lactalbumen, or fibrin. If it was egg albumen, many more refused. If these four proteins were offered simultaneously as choices, only two out of twenty-two animals refused to eat at least one of them. If the choices were offered as part of mixed diets, the animals avoided the diet containing egg albumen, but showed no other marked preferences. It was concluded that the appetites for different proteins were largely independent and that no "appetite for protein" in the general sense was indicated. The appetite for various proteins, found in some animals, is apparently based on simple preference, although it may possibly be a learned appetite.

Manuscript received 12 June 1946.