Maternal Odor Exposure Modulates Acceptance of a Bitter Taste in Newborn and Infant Rats

The acceptance of bitter, aversive, substances during early life is enhanced by stimulation with familiar, pre-exposed odors. Newborn rats exhibited heightened grasp responses toward an artificial nipple dispensing quinine, and drank more of this bitter solution, if concurrently stimulated with a lemon odor they had been exposed to shortly after birth. It yet unknown, however, if odors made familiar via normative developmental milestones also acquire modulatory influence upon seeking and intake of basic tastants. The current study assessed the influence of exposure to maternal odor on intake and grasp responses toward a surrogate nipple providing quinine, in 3-day (Experiment 1) or 12-day (Experiment 2) old, Wistar rat pups. The results revealed enhanced seeking and intake of the bitter solution, but not of water, in animals tested in the presence of the mother (and hence exposed to its odor cues), at both ages, compared to counterparts given either no explicit odor stimulation or stimulation to the odor of an unrelated dam. These results, obtained with a biologically relevant odor, are consistent with those previously found with a neutral, arbitrary odor. It seems that during the early stages of development, familiar odors regulate the acceptance of non-palatable, otherwise rejected, flavors

Un análisis de los efectos ansiolíticos del etanol sobre el contraste negativo sucesivo consumatorio

The anxiolytic properties of ethanol (1 g/kg, 15% dose, i.p.) were studied in two experiments with rats involving incentive downshifts from a 32% to a 4% sucrose solution. In Experiment 1, alcohol administration before a downshift from 32% to 4% sucrose prevented the development of consummatory suppression (consummatory successive negative contrast, cSNC). In Experiment 2, ethanol prevented the attenuating effects of partial reinforcement (random sequence of 32% sucrose and nothing) on cSNC, causing a retardation of recovery from contrast. These effects of ethanol on cSNC are analogous to those described for the benzodiazepine anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide, suggesting that at least some of its anxiolytic effects are mediated by the same mechanisms. Las propiedades ansiolíticas del etanol (1 g/kg, dosis de 15% intraperitoneal) fueron estudiadas en dos experimentos con ratas que fueron expuestas a una disminución sorpresiva del incentivo, una solución azucarada, del 32% al 4%. En el Experimento 1, la administración del alcohol antes del cambio negativo de 32% a 4% previno el desarrollo de la supresión consumatoria (contraste sucesivo negativo consumatorio, CSNc). En el experimento 2, el etanol previno los efectos atenuantes del reforzamiento parcial (consistente en una secuencia aleatoria de solución azucarada al 32% o agua sin azúcar) sobre el CSNc, causando un retardo en la recuperación del contraste. Estos efectos del etanol sobre el CSNc son análogos a aquellos descritos para la benzodiazepina ansiolítica clordiazepóxido, sugiriendo que al menos sus efectos ansiolíticos están mediados por el mismo mecanismo.

An analysis of the anxiolytic effects of ethanol on consummatory successive negative contrast

The anxiolytic properties of ethanol (1 g/kg, 15% dose, i.p.) were studied in two experiments with rats involving incentive downshifts from a 32% to a 4% sucrose solution. In Experiment 1, alcohol administration before a downshift from 32% to 4% sucrose prevented the development of consummatory suppression (consummatory successive negative contrast, cSNC). In Experiment 2, ethanol prevented the attenuating effects of partial reinforcement (random sequence of 32% sucrose and nothing) on cSNC, causing a retardation of recovery from contrast. These effects of ethanol on cSNC are analogous to those described for the benzodiazepine anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide, suggesting that at least some of its anxiolytic effects are mediated by the same mechanism

An analysis of the anxiolytic effects of ethanol on consummatory successive negative contrast

Las propiedades ansiolíticas del etanol (1 g/kg, dosis de 15% intraperitoneal) fueron estudiadas en dos experimentos con ratas que fueron expuestas a una disminución sorpresiva del incentivo, una solución azucarada, del 32% al 4%. En el Experimento 1, la administración del alcohol antes del cambio negativo de 32% a 4% previno el desarrollo de la supresión consumatoria (contraste sucesivo negativo consumatorio, CSNc). En el experimento 2, el etanol previno los efectos atenuantes del reforzamiento parcial (consistente en una secuencia aleatoria de solución azucarada al 32% o agua sin azúcar) sobre el CSNc, causando un retardo en la recuperación del contraste. Estos efectos del etanol sobre el CSNc son análogos a aquellos descritos para la benzodiazepina ansiolítica clordiazepóxido, sugiriendo que al menos sus efectos ansiolíticos están mediados por el mismo mecanismo. The anxiolytic properties of ethanol (1 g/kg, 15% dose, i.p.) were studied in two experiments with rats involving incentive downshifts from a 32% to a 4% sucrose solution. In Experiment 1, alcohol administration before a downshift from 32% to 4% sucrose prevented the development of consummatory suppression (consummatory successive negative contrast, cSNC). In Experiment 2, ethanol prevented the attenuating effects of partial reinforcement (random sequence of 32% sucrose and nothing) on cSNC, causing a retardation of recovery from contrast. These effects of ethanol on cSNC are analogous to those described for the benzodiazepine anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide, suggesting that at least some of its anxiolytic effects are mediated by the same mechanisms.

An analysis of the anxiolytic effects of ethanol on consummatory successive negative contrast

Las propiedades ansiolíticas del etanol (1 g/kg, dosis de 15% intraperitoneal) fueron estudiadas en dos experimentos con ratas que fueron expuestas a una disminución sorpresiva del incentivo, una solución azucarada, del 32% al 4%. En el Experimento 1, la administración del alcohol antes del cambio negativo de 32% a 4% previno el desarrollo de la supresión consumatoria (contraste sucesivo negativo consumatorio, CSNc). En el experimento 2, el etanol previno los efectos atenuantes del reforzamiento parcial (consistente en una secuencia aleatoria de solución azucarada al 32% o agua sin azúcar) sobre el CSNc, causando un retardo en la recuperación del contraste. Estos efectos del etanol sobre el CSNc son análogos a aquellos descritos para la benzodiazepina ansiolítica clordiazepóxido, sugiriendo que al menos sus efectos ansiolíticos están mediados por el mismo mecanismo. The anxiolytic properties of ethanol (1 g/kg, 15% dose, i.p.) were studied in two experiments with rats involving incentive downshifts from a 32% to a 4% sucrose solution. In Experiment 1, alcohol administration before a downshift from 32% to 4% sucrose prevented the development of consummatory suppression (consummatory successive negative contrast, cSNC). In Experiment 2, ethanol prevented the attenuating effects of partial reinforcement (random sequence of 32% sucrose and nothing) on cSNC, causing a retardation of recovery from contrast. These effects of ethanol on cSNC are analogous to those described for the benzodiazepine anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide, suggesting that at least some of its anxiolytic effects are mediated by the same mechanisms.