Role of the area postrema in radiation-induced taste aversion learning and emesis in cats

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Physiol. Behav.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(86)90189-7· OSTI ID:6914413

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

The role of the area postrema in radiation-induced emesis and taste aversion learning and the relationship between these behaviors were studied in cats. The potential involvement of neural factors which might be independent of the area postrema was minimized by using low levels of ionizing radiation (100 rads at a dose rate of 40 rads/min) to elicit a taste aversion, and by using body-only exposures (4500 and 6000 rads at 450 rads/min) to produce emesis. Lesions of the area postrema disrupted both taste aversion learning and emesis following irradiation. These results, which indicate that the area postrema is involved in the mediation of both radiation-induced emesis and taste aversion learning in cats under these experimental conditions, are interpreted as being consistent with the hypotheses that similar mechanisms mediate both responses to exposure to ionizing radiation, and that the taste aversion learning paradigm can therefore serve as a model system for studying radiation-induced emesis.

• Research Organization: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 6914413
• Journal Information: Physiol. Behav.; (United States), Vol. 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
TASTE BUDS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
VOMITING
RADIOINDUCTION
BEHAVIOR
CATS
LEARNING
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
MAMMALS
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
SENSE ORGANS
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals