Lithium-induced context aversion in rats as a model of anticipatory nauseain humans

Citation
M. Rodriguez et al., Lithium-induced context aversion in rats as a model of anticipatory nauseain humans, PHYSL BEHAV, 71(5), 2000, pp. 571-579
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology,"Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
ISSN journal
00319384 → ACNP
Volume
71
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
571 - 579
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9384(200012)71:5<571:LCAIRA>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
In three experiments, rats received injections of lithium chloride (LiCl) b efore being exposed to a distinctive context. In a subsequent test, rats gi ven access to sucrose solution in this context consumed less than control s ubjects given sucrose in another context that had been paired with a saline injection (Experiment 1), or was quite novel (Experiment 2). Experiment 3 demonstrated that a context that had been associated with LiCl would serve to block the acquisition of a conditioned flavor aversion when it was prese nted immediately after the injection on a flavor-LiCl trial. These results show that a procedure in which rats experience the adverse effects of a lit hium injection in the presence of contextual cues is effective in endowing those cues with aversive properties. It is argued that the context evokes a state of conditioned nausea, and the parallel with the clinical phenomenon of anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) in human patients is outlined. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.