Hormonal influences on the extinction of conditioned taste aversion

Abstract

Conditioned taste aversion for a 5% glucose solution (sugar water) was induced in rats by an i.p. injection of LiCl 30 min after the first presentation of sugar water. Extinction of conditioned taste aversion was measured either in the forced-drinking test or in the preference-drinking test. In the forced-drinking test sugar water was the only fluid presented to the animals during extinction sessions. In the preference-drinking test the animals had the choice of tap water or sugar water. The rate of extinction was much slower in the preference test. The ACTH-analogues, ACTH_4–10 and ACTH_{4–10 7D Phe}, and α-MSH delayed extinction in the preference test but not extinction in the forced-drinking test. ACTH_11–24 was without any effect. MSH-release inhibiting factor (MIF) facilitated extinction in the forced-drinking test but did not alter extinction in the preference test. The peptides did not affect intake of tap water or preference of sugar water over tap water by control rats.