Pimozide attenuates conditioned taste preferences induced by self-stimulation in rats.
Conditioned taste preferences (CTPs) were observed in rats who drank flavored water followed by a session of self-stimulation. Control groups that did not self-stimulate did not exhibit CTPs. Other taste/SS pairings conducted under the influence of the dopamine receptor antagonist pimozide (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg, IP) resulted in dose-dependent reduction in the size of the CTPs. No evidence of any aversive effects (conditioned taste aversions) of the pimozide treatment were observed in the no-stimulation control groups. These data suggest that, in addition to its effects on responding, low doses of pimozide reduce the rewarding properties of self-stimulation.
D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010868:Pimozide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D010868:Pimozide