Attenuation of a radiation-induced conditioned taste aversion after the development of ethanol tolerance.
An attempt to reduce a radiation-induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA) was undertaken by rendering animals tolerant to ethanol. Ethanol tolerance, developed over 5 days, was sufficient to block a radiation-induced taste aversion, as well as an ethanol-induced CTA. Several intermittent doses of ethanol, which did not induce tolerance but removed the novelty of the conditioning stimulus, blocked an ethanol-induced CTA but not the radiation-induced CTA. A CTA induced by doses of radiation up to 500 rads was attenuated. These data suggest that radioprotection developing in association with ethanol tolerance is a result of a physiological response to the chronic presence of ethanol not to the ethanol itself.
Hunt
W A
WA
Behavioral Sciences Department Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Bethesda, MD 20814-5145.
Rabin
B M
BM
D000818:Animals; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013649:Taste
D000431:Ethanol