The effects of chronic water deprivation on metabolic rate and long-trace taste-aversion conditioning in rats.
The effect of chronic water deprivation on metabolic rate and long-trace taste-aversion conditioning was examined in Wistar-derived rats. Subjects were either maintained on a water deprivation regimen or allowed free access to water for a seven-week period prior to conditioning. At conditioning, rats were presented a saccharin CS followed 0-, 45-, 90-, or 180-min later by an i.p. injection of LiCl. Additionally, pseudo-conditioned groups were presented the CS followed immediately by an injection of physiological saline. Heightened oxygen consumption in deprived subjects suggested that chronic water deprivation increased metabolic rate. While no differences in the amount of saccharin intake were observed at conditioning, percent preference for saccharin scores during a 24-h two-bottle water/saccharin test revealed that non-chronically deprived rats supported conditioning at longer CS-US intervals than did chronically water-deprived rats. Results are interpreted in terms of a time-contraction effect stemming from an alteration of an internal metabolic count-down timer.
Anderson
Matthew J
MJ
Saint Joseph's College of Maine, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish, ME 04084, USA. manderson@sjcme.edu
Hinderliter
Charles F
CF
Misanin
James R
JR
D000818:Animals; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D003681:Dehydration / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013649:Taste