Orosensory factors in the ingestion of corn oil/sucrose mixtures by the rat.
The experiments reported here were designed to study the orosensory factors contributing to the ingestion of sucrose/corn oil mixtures. When a flavor aversion was conditioned to the sucrose/corn oil mixture, the subsequent aversion to the mixture strongly generalized to the corn oil but very little to the sucrose. Rats conditioned with corn oil show a more profound aversion to the sucrose/corn oil mixture than rats conditioned with sucrose, indicating that the salient feature of the sucrose/corn oil mixture is the oil. Aversion to the sucrose/corn oil mixture does not generalize to a sucrose/mineral oil mixture, giving evidence that the textural aspects of the oil do not play a major role in its perception. This flavor aversion to the mixture is further illustrated in very short-term tests where postingestive factors are minimized, indicating a role for the gustatory system in the detection of the sucrose/corn oil mixture. Preliminary experiments are reported where conditioning tests were run with mixtures of sucrose and linoleic acid, one of the fatty acids that is possibly derived from a breakdown of the corn oil in the oral cavity by lingual lipase from von Ebner's Gland.
Smith
J C
JC
Neuroscience Program, The Florida State University, Tallahassee 32306-1270, USA. jcsmith@psy.fsu.edu
Fisher
E M
EM
Maleszewski
V
V
McClain
B
B
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation
D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013395:Sucrose; D003314:Corn Oil; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008049:Lipase; D018021:Lithium Chloride