Possible effect of radiation produced hydrogen peroxide on post-irradiation aversion in mice

Post-irradiation Avoidance and Recovery of Preference of Saccharin Sodium in Mice

“…Various test such as Electron Spin Resonance and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and other analytical techniques were performed to determine the existence of any new radiolytic pro duct in the irradiated solution, such as hydrogen peroxide that might have been responsible for this interesting conditioned aversion. Further experimentations showed that hydrogen per oxide was indeed a radiolytic product of irradiated saccharin, sucrose solution and water, and that mice also avoided saccharin, sucrose solution, and water when small amounts of hydrogen peroxide was added to these liquids as if the liquids has been ex posed to low radiation dosages [7]. Mice normally show positional preference when two water bottles are offered at two different positions.…”

EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON THE BEHAVIOR OF ANIMALS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Appendix to 1972 Progress Report.

“…LeVan and Moos (1967b) postulate that since hydrogen peroxide is a radiolytic product of water and aqueous solutions, it induces avoidance behavior in mice. Mice showed avoidance behavior to irradiated water and saccharin solutions and to water and saccharin solutions with hydrogen peroxide added just as x-irradiated mice showed aversion to unirradiated saccharin solutions.…”

Direct and Indirect Effect of X-irradiation on Conditioned Avoidance Behavior

“…Whether the nature of this behavior is the same ¡is the one observed when the animals themselves are exposed to radiation is still a question for more investigations. One may speculate that when saccharin sodium is exposed to X-ravs or other ionizing radiations, there may be some breakdowns in the molecular struc ture of the solution and/or formation of peroxide [5], but how this process can be associated with the avoidance behavior is still to be answered.…”