title: The effects of midazolam on the acquisition and expression of fructose- and maltodextrin-based flavour preferences.
abstract: The effects of the benzodiazepine agonist midazolam on the acquisition and expression of flavour preferences were investigated. Rats (Experiment 1) were given one-bottle training with one flavoured solution (CS+) mixed with either fructose or maltodextrin and another solution (CS-) presented alone. Animals receiving 1 mg/kg midazolam during training consumed more CS- than did animals receiving vehicle injections although there was no drug effect on CS+ consumption. In two-bottle tests the CS+ was preferred to the CS- with the preference being larger in fructose trained animals. Midazolam (0.3-3 mg/kg) increased total intake but not CS+ preference. Training under midazolam reduced the CS+ preference when fructose, but not maltodextrin, was the reinforcer. In Experiment 2 training consumption was restricted to 10 ml/session. This removed the difference in CS+ preference between reinforcer types but otherwise the results were as in Experiment 1. The midazolam induced attenuation of fructose-based preferences might reflect an increase in CS- palatability during training which would reduce the difference between the reinforced and non-reinforced solutions. As maltodextrin supports preferences due to post-ingestive effects manipulation of palatability should be ineffective. Midazolam does not influence the expression of conditioned flavour preferences despite prior evidence that benzodiazepine agonists enhance palatability.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK. DwyerDM@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Dominic M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D003463:Cues; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D005632:Fructose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011134:Polysaccharides; D005632:Fructose; C008315:maltodextrin; D008874:Midazolam