title: Dietary GABA and food selection by rats.
abstract: To obtain further information pertaining to amino acid-induced alterations in feeding behavior, studies were performed to examine the food choices made by rats fed low protein diets made more or less aversive by the addition of various amino acids. When rats were allowed to choose between two diets, they preferred a low protein control, threonine-imbalanced or nonprotein diet to one containing 2.5% gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Acceptance increased when GABA content was lowered to 1.5%; rats preferred this diet when the alternative diet was made sufficiently aversive. There were large individual differences among rats selecting from pairs of unacceptable diets. Avoidance of, or preference for, a given diet is clearly affected by the relative aversive qualities of the offered pair of diets.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tews
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Repa
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013912:Threonine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D013912:Threonine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid