X-Ray-Conditioned Saccharin Aversion Induced during the Immediate Postexposure Period

Abstract

A total of 136 male Sprague-Dawley rats approximately 100 days of age were used to explore the possibility of motivational consequences of irradiation persisting after conclusion of exposure. It was found that presentation of the saccharin solution as long as an hour after the 100-r X-ray exposure was adequate to condition a subsequent aversion to saccharin fluid. When the delay was as long as 6 hours, the mean S-score did not differ from that of the pooled controls. The results indicated that the motive state induced in a rat during 100 r of whole-body exposure does not dissipate for at least an hour after termination of the X-ray exposure.