Interactions between radiation and amphetamine in taste aversion learning and the role of the area postrema in amphetamine-induced conditioned taste aversions

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Pharmacol., Biochem. Behav.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(87)90194-8· OSTI ID:5846539

Rabin, B M; Hunt, W A; Lee, J

Three experiments were run to assess the role of the area postrema in taste aversion learning resulting from combined treatment with subthreshold unconditioned stimuli and in the acquisition of an amphetamine-induced taste aversion. In the first experiment, it was shown that combined treatment with subthreshold radiation (15 rad) and subthreshold amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg, IP) resulted in the acquisition of a taste aversion. The second experiment showed that lesions of the area postrema blocked taste aversion learning produced by two subthreshold doses of amphetamine. In the third experiment, which looked at the dose-response curve for amphetamine-induced taste aversion learning in intact rats and rats with area postrema lesions, it was shown that both groups of rats acquired taste aversions following injection of amphetamine, although the rats with lesions showed a less severe aversion than the intact rats. The results are interpreted as indicating that amphetamine-induced taste aversion learning may involve area postrema-mediated mechanisms, particularly at the lower doses, but that an intact area postrema is not a necessary condition for the acquisition of an amphetamine-induced taste aversion.

• Research Organization: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 5846539
• Journal Information: Pharmacol., Biochem. Behav.; (United States), Journal Name: Pharmacol., Biochem. Behav.; (United States) Vol. 27:4; ISSN PBBHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMPHETAMINES
ANALEPTICS
ANIMALS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSES
DRUGS
LEARNING
MAMMALS
ORGANS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RATS
RODENTS
SENSE ORGANS
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
SYNERGISM
TASTE BUDS
VERTEBRATES