Interanimal Transferability of Taste Aversion Learning for 0.1% Saccharin

Abstract

Three experiments were performed to assess the interanimal transferability of conditioned taste aversion to 0.1% saccharin. Two experiments used an intracerebrospinal fluid (subdural) route for administering brain extracts and a third used an intraperitoneal (IP) route. As assessed by repeated measurements ANOVA, saccharin consumption was significantly lower during extinction of conditioned aversion for experimental recipients (ER) receiving extracts from aversively conditioned donors, than that of control recipients (CR), receiving extracts from unconditioned donors in one subdural experiment, F(21, 189) = 1.61, p less than 0.05. In the IP experiment the results were in the same direction, though not significant, F(34, 238) = 1.39, p less than 0.1. Results of the other subdural experiment are discussed. It is concluded that these experiments with the conditioned taste aversion paradigm have potential as a model for investigations of behavioral interanimal transfer (BIT) and for neuromolecular research aimed at identification of associated putative neurochemical(s) and the elaboration of their mechanism of action.