Isolation and identification of two learning-induced brain peptides

Interanimal Transferability of Taste Aversion Learning for 0.1% Saccharin

“…If further experiments confirm these findings and if similar results can be obtained using other concentrations of saccharin or other flavors, the neuromolecule(s) associated with each concentration or flavor could be isolated and identified by biochemical studies (Ungar, Desiderio, & Parr , 1972;Tate, Galvan, & Ungar, 1976). Comparisons of such neuromolecules could conceivably lead to the identification of a family of neuromolecules associated with conditioned taste aversion specific to concentrations of saccharin or particular flavors and to an elaboration of their neuromolecular mechanisms.…”

“…Molecular learning researchers were pioneers in the area of neuromolecular and neuropeptide function (Katz & Halstead, 1950;Ungar & Oceguera-Navarro, 1965). Very recent technological advances (Yalow, 1978) and neuroscience investigations (Barchas et al, 1978;DeWied, 1977 ;Guillemin, 1978) of specific neuropeptides have resulted in important advances in knowledge of neurochemical mechanisms of hunger, thirst, sex, growth, pain arousal, and emotions.…”

“…Major criticisms of past research include stressful procedures (Goldstein, 1973), incomplete controls, weak statistical desig:n and poorly defined learned behaviors (Smith, 1974). In more recent reports, severa.l researchers attempted to control for such in- F~~, 1974;Maldonado & Tablante, 1976;Tate, Galvan, & Ungar, 1976). In more recent reports, severa.l researchers attempted to control for such in- F~~, 1974;Maldonado & Tablante, 1976;Tate, Galvan, & Ungar, 1976).…”

“…Recently, two molecules, one purported to be associated with avoidance of a green color and the other of a red color in goldfish, were found to have similarities in amino acid sequences (Tate, Galvan & Ungar, 1976). In genera], the conditioned behaviors and paradigms in BIT research have been designed simply to demonstrate or not demonstrate the effect.…”

“…Three of these studies reported data indicating that after receiving extracts from conditioned donor animals, recipient animals displayed the same taste aversion as the donor animals. However, evidence from a number of studies indicates that purified RNA is very unlikely to be responsible for BIT results (Ungar & Oceguera-Navarro, 1965;Rosenblatt & Miller, 1966;Ungar, 1970). The first study (Revusky & DeVenuto, 1967) injected purified RNA I P from conditioned donor rats' brains into recipient naive rats and found n o BIT effect.…”