Conditioned flavor avoidance as a measure of withdrawal in rats chronically exposed to a caffeine solution.
Rats were given 21 days of chronic oral caffeine. A novel flavor (Maintenance CS) was then paired with the continuation of caffeine, and a second flavor (Withdrawal CS) was paired with caffeine removal. Rats avoided the Withdrawal CS, and drank more of the Maintenance CS in a two-bottle test, suggesting that removing caffeine had induced withdrawal. The value of the Maintenance CS was investigated by comparing it to a novel flavor paired with water (Neutral CS). In a series of two-bottle tests, the Maintenance and Neutral CSs were equivalent when pitted against each other, and both were preferred to the Withdrawal CS. These results demonstrate that conditioned flavor avoidance is a useful procedure in assessing caffeine withdrawal, and by inference dependence, produced by chronic oral consumption.
Dreumont-Boudreau
Sarah E
SE
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3H 4J1. sdreumon@dal.ca
Dingle
Rachel N
RN
Alcolado
Gillian M
GM
Lolordo
Vincent M
VM
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012439:Saccharin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D002110:Caffeine; D012439:Saccharin