5-HT3 RECEPTORS ARE NOT INVOLVED IN CONDITIONED TASTE-AVERSIONS INDUCED BY 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE, IPECACUANHA OR CISPLATIN

We have used the rat to examine the involvement of the 5-HT3 receptor in the mechanism(s) of conditioned taste aversion induced by 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) and selected emetic drugs. 5-HT, ipecacuanha and cis platin all induced conditioned taste aversion at doses known to induce emesis in other species but the responses were resistant to treatment with the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists ondansetron and granisetron. Furt her, m-chlorophenylbiguanide, a selective and potent 5-HT3 receptor ag onist, failed to induce a conditioned taste aversion. The data provide strong evidence that the 5-HT3 receptor is not involved in conditione d taste aversion mechanisms in the rat. Results are discussed in terms of the usefulness of the rat conditioned taste aversion paradigm to a nti-emetic research. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.