title: Acquisition and expression of fat-conditioned flavor preferences are differentially affected by NMDA receptor antagonism in BALB/c and SWR mice.
abstract: Conditioned flavor preferences are elicited by fat (Intralipid) in inbred mouse strains with BALB/c and SWR mice displaying among the most robust preferences. Dopamine D1and opioid receptor antagonism differentially reduces the acquisition (learning) and expression (maintenance) of fat-conditioned flavor preferences in these two strains. Because noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonism with MK-801 differentially altered sugar-conditioned flavor preferences in these strains, and because NMDA receptors are involved in fat intake, the present study examined whether MK-801 differentially altered expression and acquisition of fat (Intralipid)-conditioned flavor preferences in BALB/c and SWR mice. In expression studies, food-restricted male mice alternately consumed a flavored (CS+, e.g., cherry, 5 sessions) 5% Intralipid solution and a differently-flavored (CS-, e.g., grape, 5 sessions) 0.5% Intralipid solution. Two-bottle CS choice tests occurred following vehicle or MK-801 (100, 200µg/kg). MK-801 blocked expression of Intralipid-CFP at both doses in BALB/c mice, but only at the 100µg/kg dose in SWR mice. In acquisition studies, groups of BALB/c (0, 100µg/kg) and SWR (0, 100µg/kg) male mice were treated prior to the ten acquisition training sessions followed by six 2-bottle CS choice tests without injections. MK-801 eliminated acquisition of Intralipid-conditioned flavor preferences in BALB/c mice, and actually changed the preference to an avoidance response in SWR mice. Thus, NMDA receptor signaling appears essential especially for the learning of fat-conditioned flavor preferences in both mouse strains.
authors.affiliation: CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Tamar T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queens College, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queens College, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: LaMagna
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queens College, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Deena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Warshaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queens College, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Elona
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Natanova
authors.affiliation: CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sclafani
authors.affiliation: CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychology, Queens College, CUNY, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: richard.bodnar@qc.cuny.edu.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bodnar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013045:Species Specificity; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate
keywords: Genetic variance; Inbred mice; Intralipid; MK-801