title: Modeling the effects of low toxin levels in food on feeding: dose-dependent reduction of fluid intake by low levels of lithium chloride.
abstract: The present study examined the dose related effects of low levels of the toxin, LiCl, on the ingestion of a palatable sucrose plus salt solution. Over five days (acquisition phase) rats were presented with a 0.3M sucrose solution containing one of the following salt combinations: 0.12 M NaCl (n=10 negative control group); 0.005 M LiCl+0.115 NaCl (n=10); 0.01 M LiCl+0.11 NaCl (n=10); 0.015 M LiCl+0.105 M NaCl (n=10); 0.02 M LiCl+0.10 M NaCl (n=10); and 0.12 M LiCl (n=8 positive control group). During an extinction phase (5 days), all rats were presented with 0.3M Sucrose+0.12 M NaCl solution. Fluid intake levels and number of licks were quantified on each day. At low LiCl concentration levels rats exhibited a dose related reduction in amount consumed and number of licks of the sucrose plus salt solutions. This toxin related suppression of fluid intake and licking rapidly dissipated during the extinction phase. The present findings support the hypothesis that rats use a behavioral tolerance mechanism to regulate their intake of foods containing low levels of toxins.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada. agood4@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Amber N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kavaliers
authors.forename: Klaus-Peter
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Ossenkopp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects*; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans
chemical_list: D018021:Lithium Chloride
keywords: Behaviorally regulated tolerance; Drinking behavior; Gustatory conditioning; Lithium chloride; Toxin suppression of feeding