title: Effect of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on quinine palatability and AM251 on sucrose and quinine palatability using the taste reactivity test.
abstract: Here we provide evidence that the cannabinoid agonist, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC) enhances quinine palatability and the CB1 antagonist/inverse agonist, AM251, reduces sucrose and quinine palatability using the taste reactivity test, which provides a direct measure of palatability independently of appetitive behavior. In Experiment 1, rats were treated with a low dose of Delta9-THC (0.5 mg/kg) or Vehicle 30 min, 60 min, 120 min or 240 min prior to a 5-min intraoral infusion of a highly unpalatable 0.05% quinine solution. Regardless of the post-injection interval, Delta9-THC reduced rejection of quinine. The Delta9-THC-induced palatability shift was reversed by AM251. In Experiment 2, rats were injected with either AM251 (1 mg/kg) or Vehicle prior to receiving a 5-min intraoral infusion of either 32% sucrose or 0.05% quinine solution. AM251 significantly decreased sucrose-elicited hedonic reactions across both time intervals; however, AM251 did not significantly modify the rejection of 0.05% quinine solution. When the concentration of the quinine solution was reduced to 0.01% in Experiment 3, AM251 enhanced quinine aversion. Although the range of concentrations of the solutions tested in the present data is limited, our results suggest that the cannabinoid system may modulate the palatability of ingested substances regardless of the palatability of the ingested substance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5.
authors.forename: Maegan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jarrett
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scantlebury
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000819:agonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011803:Quinine; D051381:Rats; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013395:Sucrose; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D002186:Cannabinoids; D010880:Piperidines; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; C103505:AM 251; D013395:Sucrose; D013759:Dronabinol; D011803:Quinine