title: Sucrose-conditioned flavor preferences in sweet ageusic T1r3 and Calhm1 knockout mice.
abstract: The present study compared the ability of sweet ageusic T1r3 knockout (KO) and Calhm1 KO mice to acquire preferences for a sucrose-paired flavor as well as for unflavored sucrose. The KO and wildtype (WT) mice were given 24-h one-bottle access to 8% sucrose containing one flavor CS+, e.g., grape) and to water containing a different flavor (CS-, e.g., cherry) over 4 training days. In subsequent two-bottle tests with the flavors in water only, the T1r3 KO and Calhm1 KO mice, like WT mice, preferred the CS+ to the CS-. After training with flavored solutions, both KO groups also preferred unflavored 8% sucrose to water although Calhm1 KO mice required more sugar experience to match the preference of the T1r3 KO mice. These findings demonstrate that Calhm1 KO mice, like T1r3 KO mice and WT mice, are sensitive to the post-oral preference conditioning actions of sucrose and can discriminate sugar from water. Yet, despite their acquired sucrose preferences, the Calhm1 KO and T1r3 KO mice consumed only half as much sugar per day as did WT mice. Thus, sweet taste signaling elements are not needed in the gut for sugar conditioning, but sweet taste signaling in the mouth is essential for the full expression of sugar appetite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA. Electronic address: asclafani@gc.cuny.edu.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sclafani
authors.affiliation: Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marambaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ackroff
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013649:Taste / Q000235:genetics*; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C575356:CALHM1 protein, mouse; D015220:Calcium Channels; D005421:Flavoring Agents; C519703:TLR3 protein, mouse; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3; D013395:Sucrose
keywords: 24-h tests; Oral sugar conditioning; Post-oral sugar reward