Abstract
The regulation of histidine and arginine intake in rats was investigated using the self-selection feeding method. The usefulness of the self-selection feeding technique for the determination of amino acid requirements is also discussed. When weanling rats were offered a choice of two diets differing only in histidine or arginine content for 2 weeks, they chose diets to support maximal growth, with the exception of some groups that did not grow to the maximum level. Histidine and arginine intake of the self-selecting rats ranged from 0.25% to 2.22% and from 0.43% to 2.43% of the diets ingested. These results demonstrate clearly that rats have the ability to consume a minimum amount that satisfies histidine and arginine needs for maximal growth. Previous and the present results suggest that the self-selection feeding method is a useful technique for the determination of amino acid requirements in growing rats.
