Vasopressin and conditioned flavor aversion in aged rats.
The effect of lysine vasopressin on the performance of young-adult and old rats subjected to a conditioned flavor aversion procedure was studied. Young rats maintained an aversion to a 0.1% saccharin solution significantly longer than did older rats. Treatment with lysine vasopressin ( 1 microgram/kg) during the recovery period prolonged the aversion in both age groups. A single injection of lysine vasopressin prior to the aversion procedure significantly reduced the age difference in extinction. These observations support the hypothesis that age-dependent changes in endogenous vasopressin synthesis or secretion underlie some of the behavioral deficits observed in old animals.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology*; D004326:Drinking; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D008236:Lypressin / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*
D008236:Lypressin