Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene delivery into the CNS using bone marrow cells as vehicles in mice

This study investigated the behavioral mechanisms underlying the anxiogenic, or anxiolytic mediated effects of CCK(2) receptor mediated agonist (CCK-4) and antagonist drugs (LY225910, LY288513, CR2945) in PVG hooded and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats using the elevated plus maze test apparatus. In addition, the effects of a CCK(1) antagonist (CR1409) were investigated for its possible mediation in anxiety behavior between PVG hooded and SD rats. PVG hooded rats treated with CCK-4, decreased the time spent in the open arm and increased the time spent in the closed arm and correspondingly showed increase in the number of entries in the open arms while the number of entries in closed arm was insignificant, whereas SD rats decreased the time spent in the closed arm, while other parameters remained insignificant. PVG hooded rats administered with various CCK(2) antagonists (LY225910, LY288513, and CR2945) significantly increased the time spent in the open arm and correspondingly decreased the time spent in the closed arm, while the number of entries in the open or closed arm was insignificant, in contrast, SD rats failed to show any reliable significance. PVG hooded rats administered with the CCK(1) antagonist (CR1409), failed to show any reliable significance, in contrast, SD rats significantly increased the time spent in the open arm. The strain differences observed in this study suggests that CCK plays mainly as a neuromodulator, in which the various CCK(2) antagonists may not affect baseline anxiety state, but instead they modulate heightened states of anxiety through differential effects of CCK(1)/CCK(2) receptors.     

Morphine treatment and reproductive condition alter olfactory preferences for pup and adult male odors in female rats

Administration of morphine sulfate (MS) to pregnancy-terminated and postpartum lactating female rats disrupts both maternal behavior and postpartum aggression. Since the display of these behaviors may be heavily dependent on olfactory cues provided by the stimulus animals (rat pups and adult male rats, respectively), we examined whether MS was affecting the perception of the olfactory stimuli, and whether olfactory perception was modified by reproductive condition. In Experiment 1, lactating rats had their pups removed and were injected with MS (5.0 mg/kg, sc.) or saline. 60 min later they were placed into a two-choice apparatus, one side of which contained bedding soiled by neonates and the other clean bedding. Time spent on each side was recorded for a total of 5 min (300 s; chance = 150 s). Saline-treated mothers spent significantly more time on the pup-odor side, whereas MS-treated females spent significantly less. In Experiment 2, lactating females were treated with MS or saline and exposed to male odors (soiled bedding). MS significantly increased time spent on the side with male odors; when treated with saline, time spent was significantly reduced. Thus, in lactating rats. MS creates an aversion for pup odors while reducing the female's normal aversion toward male odors. In Experiment 3, ovariectomized (ovx) virgin females expressed neither an aversion nor a preference for the odor of pups following saline administration. After MS treatment, however, the virgins showed a distinct preference for pup odors. When exposed to male odors in Experiment 4 ovx virgins showed a marked preference for male odors after MS treatment, and neither a preference nor an aversion after saline. Experiment 5 examined pup odor preferences in intact virgins, early (Day 7), middle (Day 14), late-pregnant (Day 21), and prepartum (Day 22) rats. The pup odor preferences of virgin, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21 pregnant rats were not different and generally were at chance levels. Day 22 pregnant females exhibited a marked preference for pup odors compared to chance levels, as well as compared to the other four groups. These findings suggest that opiates and endogenous opioids may regulate olfactory preferences and that alterations in this system may underlie normal behavioral changes toward conspecifics prepartum as well as during lactation.     

Place conditioning reveals the rewarding aspect of social interaction in juvenile rats.

Rewards, as diverse as food, sweetened solutions, copulation, electrical brain stimulation, and drugs abused by humans, have been shown to condition place preferences in rats. Juvenile rats will readily learn to traverse a T-maze for the opportunity to interact with another similar-aged rat. This suggests that play behavior is rewarding. Experiment 1 examined whether play (as quantified by rough-and-tumble pinning) would act as a sufficient reward to condition a place preference (CPP). Experiment 2 examined whether pairings with a nonplaying partner would decrease the time spent in the preferred side and thus suggest a conditioned place aversion (CPA). In Experiment 1, dominant juvenile rats were given free access to a CPP apparatus and a side preference for one of the two physically distinct sides was determined. Dominant rats were then conditioned twice daily over four days in the CPP apparatus. They spent their first session confined in their preferred side with a scopolamine-treated partner (that rendered the partner unable to respond to play solicitations) and during the second session, dominant rats were confined to their less preferred side with a submissive play partner. The number of dorsal contacts, as well as frequency and duration of pinning, were recorded. Following conditioning, side preference was redetermined. A similar procedure was used in Experiment 2 except that the subjects underwent conditioning on their less-preferred side without a play partner. Results of Experiment 1 demonstrated that the dominant rats significantly increased (198.6%) the time spent on the originally less-preferred side after play conditioning.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Stigmatizing effects of a child''s wheelchair in successive and simultaneous interactions

In Experiment I, each of 28 boys age 7 to 9 years was observedin two successive 15-minute playroom sessions. In each sessiona second boy (a confederate) was already in the room. This confederatewas either in a wheelchair (simulating handicap) or seated inan ordinary chair. The boys engaged in significantly more cooperativeplay in the session with the "nonhandicapped" peer and in apostexperimental interview significantly preferred this child.In the second session only, they spent significantly more timelooking at the "handicapped" peer. In Experiment 2, each of20 boys was observed in a single playroom session in the simultaneouspresence of the two confederates, one of whom was in the wheelchair.In this study boys spent significantly more time in cooperativeplay with the "nonhandicapped" child and significantly moreoften preferred this child. They spent significantly more timelooking at the "nonhandicapped" child, more time talking tohim, and made more movements toward this child. The resultsof both studies were interpreted in terms of Coffman 's conceptof stigma.     

The influence of natural preference for tactile stimuli on appetitive learning in rat pups

Stimuli of the same modality tend to be organized along a “natural preference scale.” This study examined the ability of six- and nine-day-old rat pups to acquire appetitive learning, when the CS was one of two differently “naturally preferred” tactile stimuli (floor textures: rug and plywood). In Experiment 1, all pups showed a relative natural preference for the rug texture over the plywood texture. Pups conditioned on the plywood texture (exposed to a sibling pup as the US) showed a robust increase in preference for the conditioned texture whereas pups conditioned on the rug texture showed a different and more moderate pattern of acquisition. Developmental differences were found only in extinction of the conditioned response: six-day-old (but not nine-day-old) pups displayed extinction of the response over four trials. Experiment 2 indicated that preexposure to the rug CS prior to conditioning (latent inhibition) did not interfere with the learning process on the rug texture. Two major alternative explanations for the differential learning patterns are discussed: motivational and catecholaminergic influences on learning. The results suggest that natural preferences may modulate early learning and memory processes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 30: 29–30, 1997     

Selectivity of cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists, MK-329 and L-365,260, for axonally-transported CCK binding sites on the rat vagus nerve.

The ability of the cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists, MK-329 and L-365,260, to selectively inhibit 125I-Bolton-Hunter-CCK8 binding to ligated rat vagus nerve in vitro was examined at concentrations ranging from 10(-10) M to 10(-6) M. Both antagonists inhibited binding to CCK binding sites accumulating proximal to ligatures on the cervical vagus. Incubation of nerve sections in the presence of both antagonists produced an additive effect, indicating that both CCK-A and CCK-B binding sites are transported towards the periphery. In contrast, CCK binding sites accumulating distal to the ligature possessed the pharmacological characteristics of the CCK-B receptor sub-type only.     

Effects of three different cholecystokinin receptor antagonists on basal and stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion in mice

Cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists may be valuable tools for investigating the physiological role of CCK in islet function. In this study, the effects of the three different CCK receptor antagonists, proglumide, CR 1409 and L-364,718, on basal and stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion were investigated in vivo in the mouse. Each of the CCK antagonists was injected intravenously, either alone or together with one of the secretagogues CCK-8 (5.3 nmol kg-1), carbachol (0.16 mumol kg-1) or glucose (2.8 mmol kg-1). At a low dose level, proglumide (28 mumol kg-1) inhibited selectively CCK-8-induced insulin and glucagon secretion. However, at a higher dose level (280 mumol kg-1), proglumide inhibited also carbachol- and glucose-induced insulin secretion. Furthermore, proglumide elevated basal plasma levels of both glucagon and glucose. CR 1409 inhibited CCK-8-induced insulin secretion at a high (21 mumol kg-1) but not at a low (0.21 mumol kg-1) dose level. In contrast, CCK-8-induced glucagon secretion was not affected by CR 1409. L-364,718 (2.4 mumol kg-1) inhibited both CCK-8-induced insulin and glucagon secretion. In contrast, L-364,718 did not affect basal plasma levels of insulin, glucagon or glucose or those levels after stimulation with carbachol or glucose. We conclude that, of these three CCK antagonists, L-364,718 is the most specific CCK receptor antagonist for studies of both insulin and glucagon secretion in the mouse.     

Nonnutritive sucking: one of the major determinants of filial love

The present study investigated the rewarding effects of nonnutritive sucking on the development of a filial preference. Two experiments were conducted to test whether nonnutritive visceral and oral stimuli have reinforcing properties independent from each other or act in synergy. Lambs could interact freely with their dam but were deprived of suckling by covering the udder for the first 12 hr. In Experiment 1, suckling was prevented and replaced by human giving, in the presence of the mother, either a bottle of water (B5 and B2.5: 5% or 2.5% birth weight, BW, divided into seven portions over 12 hr) or water via tube-feeding (I5 and I2.5: 5% or 2.5% BW, also divided into seven portions over 12 hr). During a two-choice test performed at 12 hr after birth, only B5 and I5 lambs preferred their mother to an alien ewe however, B5 were faster at choosing their mother at the beginning of the test. B2.5 and I2.5 lambs made a random choice. In Experiment 2, suckling was prevented and replaced by human giving, in the presence of the mother, either a bottle of water (B2.5: 2.5% BW, divided into seven portions over 12 hr) or water via tube-feeding (I10 and I2.5: 10% or 2.5% BW, also divided into seven portions over 12 hr). During a two-choice test at 12 hr, tube-fed lambs (I10 and I2.5) preferred their mother to a human. B2.5 lambs were equally attracted to both partners and spent more time near the human than lambs from the other groups. In a test of reactivity to a human performed on neonates isolated from their mother, B2.5 lambs explored the human much more than the other lambs. The presence of the human had soothing properties in B2.5 lambs and once the human left, they were the only lambs displaying enhanced vocal and locomotor activity. In these experiments, nonnutritive gastrointestinal stimuli induced a preference for the mother whereas nonnutritive sucking led to a strong positive relationship with the human. These results suggest that when lambs suckle their dam, the development of filial bonding is facilitated through the combined effects of oral and gastrointestinal stimuli.     

Species differences in the localization of 'peripheral' type cholecystokinin receptors in rodent brain

A comparison of cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor binding to sections of rat, mouse and guinea pig brain has been performed using 125I-Bolton Hunter CCK and the selective peripheral CCK receptor antagonist L-365,031. In both rat and mouse, 125I-Bolton Hunter CCK binding in the region of the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) was inhibited by L-365,031 indicating that these receptors resemble CCK receptors found in peripheral tissues. In the mouse especially, dense regions of peripheral CCK receptors were detected either side of the IPN. By contrast, in the guinea pig IPN no evidence of L-365,031-sensitive binding could be found. The present reports shows that in different species, regional variations in brain CCK receptor binding occur not only in the case of classical 'brain' receptors, but also for the more discretely localised 'peripheral' type CCK receptors.     

Approach of visual stimuli modulates spatial expectations for subsequent somatosensory stimuli

To examine how the approach of visual stimuli toward the body influences expectations regarding subsequent somatosensory stimuli, we recorded event-related brain potentials (ERPs; nose reference) during a simple reaction time to somatosensory stimuli task. Twelve participants were asked to place their arms on a desk, and three LEDs were placed between their arms at equal intervals. Electrical stimuli were presented to the left (or right) wrist at a high probability (80%) or to the opposite wrist at a low probability (20%). Each trial was composed of three visual stimuli followed by one electrical stimulus. In Experiment 1, the right, center, and left (or left, center, and right) LEDs were turned on sequentially toward the wrist to which the high probability somatosensory stimuli was presented (congruent condition), or the center LED were presented three times (neutral condition). Experiment 2 was composed of the congruent condition and the inverse of the congruent condition (incongruent condition). In both experiments, the reaction times to low probability stimuli were longer than those to high probability stimuli. Moreover, the low probability stimuli elicited a larger P3 amplitude than the high probability stimuli. In addition, the P3 amplitude was higher under the visual approach condition (i.e., the congruent condition in each experiment) than under the control condition (i.e., the neutral and incongruent conditions). Furthermore, no effect on the CNV amplitude before the somatosensory stimuli was found. These results suggest that visual stimuli directed toward the body induce an automatic spatial expectation for subsequent somatosensory stimuli.     

Mother and sibling discrimination at a distance by three- to seven-day-old lambs

This study examined some aspects of the developmental phase of social bonding in newborn lambs. In Experiment 1, 3-day-old Merino lambs (singles and twins) were tested in a 2-choice situation for mother discrimination at a distance. In Experiment 2, the ability of twins to discriminate their siblings at a distance was studied 3 and 7 days after birth. When released at 9 m from two postparturient ewes after a latency of 30 s, which allowed the lambs to hear and to see both animals, most lambs chose to run and to stay with their own mothers before the end of the 2-min test (Experiment 1). There was no difference between singles and twins, nor between males and females in their distant discriminative ability. However, twins were initially undecided, slower to reach their mothers, and spent significantly less time with them. When the same testing procedure was used for sibling discrimination, most 3-day-old twins went to a lamb, but the proportion of lambs reaching the sibling first did not differ significantly from random, and the time spent near either lamb was similar (Experiment 2). During these tests, female lambs performed better than males. When tested 7 days after birth, all twins reached a lamb and a high proportion of them chose to go to the sibling first. They also spent most of the time near it. These results demonstrate that mother discrimination from a distance is well established in 3-day-old lambs and sibling discrimination takes longer to develop but has occurred by 7 days of age.     

Auto- and allo-grooming in pine voles (Microtus pinetorum) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Grooming was observed in mixed-sex pairs of voles after one vole had been unilaterally soiled with a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel. In Experiment 1, soiled pine voles spent more time grooming than did clean voles, and groomed the soiled side of their bodies more than the clean side. Soiled voles of both species head-groomed more than did clean voles. Addition of tastants to CMC gel did not alter grooming durations in either species, and there were no sex differences. In Experiment 2, both vole species (taken together) auto-groomed more than they allo-groomed, although clean voles groomed their soiled partners more than themselves. These studies suggest that soiled fur is a powerful stimulus for auto- and allo-grooming.     

Consistency of cholecystokinin satiety effect across deprivation levels and motivational states

A gastrointestinal hormone, cholecystokinin (CCK), has recently been implicated in the regulation of meal size. The consistency of the CCK satiety effect was examined across deprivation levels and motivational states. In a series of experiments rats were food deprived for varying amounts of time and injected with various doses of the CCK octapeptide before consuming a test meal of a liquid diet. In Experiment 1, 20 rats were deprived for 5 or 19 hr and injected with 0, 15, and 40 Ivy dog units/kg (U/kg) of CCK and in Experiment 2, 18 rats were 48 hr deprived and were injected with 0, 40, or 80 U/kg of CCK. In Experiment 3, 12 rats were deprived for 92 hr and received 80 U/kg of CCK. In all experiments CCK produced a dose-related suppression in food intake. CCK did not appear to become less effective as deprivation increased: 15 U/kg suppressed intake by approximately 30% at 5 and 19 hr deprivation; 40 U/kg suppressed intake by approximately 50% at all three deprivation levels; 40 U/kg suppressed intake by approximately 72% at 48 hr deprivation and 66% at 92 hr deprivation. In Experiment 4, the effects of CCK on food consumed in absence of hunger (0 hr deprivation) were observed by administering hypertonic saline to food-sated rats before presentation of a liquid diet. Under these conditions 40 U/kg of CCK suppressed intake by 76%. An additional experiment indicated that the increased inhibitory effects observed in the latter experiment were not due to the added variable of thirst. Thus under a wide variety of deprivation conditions and under varying motivational states CCK is remarkably consistent in its inhibitory effects on food intake, which are best described by a constant percent of control intake.     

Response to novelty of various types in laboratory rats

One purpose of the two studies reported here was to examine the reactions of rats to changes in the spatial arrangement of a familiarized environment under low stress conditions. The second purpose was to test the role of rats' experience with novelty. In Experiment I the novelty was manipulated by introducing new tunnels into one zone of the experimental chamber. The introduction of novelty took place after 11 habituation sessions. In Experiment II in the course of habituation sessions the experimental group of rats was subjected to a persistent change of tunnel arrangement in the experimental zone, whereas for the control group nothing changed. All animals reacted to the novelty with increased time spent in the experimental zone and decreased time spent in other zones. Both experiments show that under low stress conditions rats demonstrate a positive response toward novelty and that their previous experience with novelty does not affect that reaction.     

Individual recognition after fighting by golden hamsters: a new method

Individual recognition is crucial for many aspects of social behavior and may be a specially evolved type of learning and memory. Using golden hamsters, we developed a behavioral method for the investigation of individual recognition. After a series of three brief fights, the two males were categorized as winners or losers. In Experiments 1 and 2, the loser was then tested in a Y-maze after four different intervals (30 min, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days). In Experiment 1, the familiar winner was confined in a stimulus compartment at the end of one arm of the Y, whereas no animal occupied the opposite arm. The results showed that the losers in the experimental group spent the most time in the base of the Y (in or near the start box). They also showed hesitancy to approach the winners' odors and spent less time near them than they spent in the same area when tested with no stimulus males present. In contrast, No Fight control males spent the most time near the stimulus males and did not hesitate in approaching them. In Experiment 2, losers spent less time near the odors of a familiar winner than control losers spent near unfamiliar winners, suggesting recognition of a particular winner. In Experiment 3, the losers were tested just once, 7 days after the last interaction. Again, they spent the most time in the base of the Y and avoided the arm with odors of their specific winners. These results suggest that losers learn to recognize individuals during brief interactions and remember this information for both the short term (30 min) and the long term (at least 1 week). This behavioral method will be useful for further investigation of individual recognition and the neural mechanisms underlying this kind of memory.     

Endogenous opioids: do they modulate the rat pup's response to social isolation?

Previous studies with several different species have suggested that opioids and their receptors are involved in the mediation of the infant's vocal response to social isolation. In the case of the rat pup, 2 models have been hypothesized to relate opioids and the ultrasonic call emitted during social isolation. One model views the comforting effects of social contact as opioid mediated and the apparent distress of social isolation as analogous to opiate withdrawal. The 2nd model considers social separation as a stressor that recruits endogenous opioids. This article describes 3 experiments that tested both of these models in 7-10-day-old rat pups. In Experiment 1, morphine (0.04-0.40 mg/kg) decreased the rate of isolation calls in a dose-dependent, naloxone-reversible fashion. However, the decrease in calling rate was observed only at doses that decreased locomotor activity. Administration of the reversible opiate antagonist naloxone (0.05-5.0 mg/kg) did not alter the rate of calls during either 2- or 6-min isolation tests at either 24 or 32 degrees C. In Experiment 2, the irreversible mu opioid receptor antagonist beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA) was administered into the lateral ventricle of 6-day-old pups. Again, no change in the rate of isolation calls was found, although sensitivity to morphine was markedly decreased, and mu (but not delta or kappa) receptors were decreased in selected brain regions by about 40%. In Experiment 3, in vivo receptor binding was used to directly investigate the availability of mu opioid receptors during social contact and social isolation. Pups injected with 3H-diprenorphine showed relatively high levels of specific in vivo binding that followed the regional pattern of in vitro binding, but no effects of social isolation were apparent in the 5 brain regions assayed. Taken together, the consistent negative results with opiate receptor antagonists, as well as the inability to detect an alteration of in vivo binding, suggest that the mu opioid receptor is not an essential part of the rat pup's vocal response to social separation.     

CCK-8及其受体拮抗剂对吗啡戒断大鼠额叶皮质及海马CREB与pCREB表达的影响

 目的：观察八肽胆囊收缩素（CCK-8）及其受体拮抗剂对吗啡戒断大鼠额叶皮质和海马cAMP反应元件结合蛋白（CREB）表达及其磷酸化（pCREB）的影响,初步探讨CCK-8调节吗啡戒断大鼠的受体后机制。方法：建立大鼠吗啡慢性依赖及纳络酮催促戒断模型,并给予CCK-8、CCK1受体拮抗剂L-364718和CCK2受体拮抗剂LY-288513慢性干预,应用Western blotting和免疫组织化学技术观察额叶皮质和海马CREB与pCREB 表达的变化。结果：（1） 正常组大鼠额叶皮质神经元胞浆、胞核均表达CREB蛋白,pCREB蛋白则仅在胞核中高表达;海马CA1区锥体细胞层神经元中,CREB蛋白在胞浆中高表达,胞核低表达,pCREB蛋白则仅在胞核中表达。（2） 慢性吗啡作用后CREB无明显变化,pCREB增加;急性纳洛酮催促戒断后CREB仍无明显变化,pCREB进一步升高。（3） 与戒断组相比,CCK-8、L-364718和LY-288513慢性干预对吗啡依赖戒断大鼠额叶皮质CREB蛋白表达无明显影响,pCREB蛋白表达均明显降低;L-364718和LY-288513慢性干预后,海马CREB与pCREB表达均明显降低,而CCK-8慢性干预对CREB蛋白表达无明显影响,仅pCREB蛋白表达明显降低。结论：CCK-8及其受体拮抗剂可能通过调节核转录因子CREB减轻吗啡戒断症状,并具有脑区特异性。     

The free-exploratory paradigm as a model of trait anxiety in rats: Test–retest reliability

The free exploratory paradigm has been proposed as a model of trait anxiety. By definition, trait anxiety does not vary from moment to moment, therefore any model used to evaluate it needs to give the same results in sequential trials. With this in mind, the test–retest reliability of the free-exploratory paradigm in rats was evaluated. The behaviour of drug-naive, adult, male, Wistar rats was measured in the free-exploratory apparatus on two occasions, either one week apart (Experiment I) or four weeks apart (Experiment II). The following parameters were evaluated: percentage of time spent in the novel compartment of the free exploratory box; percentage of novel compartment units visited; percentage of time rearing in the novel compartment; and attempts to enter the novel compartment. Subsequently, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the kappa index (κ) were calculated for each of these parameters. The “percentage of time spent in the novel compartment” was found to be stable over time. Analysis of this parameter in Experiment I showed high values of ICC (0.805) and κ (0.716), indicating good reliability with a one-week inter-trial interval. In Experiment II, although the same parameter's kappa index (0.255) failed to show a reasonable test/retest concordance, the ICC value (0.760) still demonstrated a good test/retest correlation, suggesting that with a four-week inter-trial interval, the reliability may diminish, but still exists. Therefore, our results bring further support to the free-exploratory paradigm as an animal model of trait anxiety.     

Role of noradrenaline and serotonin in the basolateral region of the amygdala in food preferences and learned taste aversions in the rat

First, it was confirmed that bilateral lesions in the basolateral region of the amygdala (ABL) of the rat increased the time spent eating novel as compared to familiar food in a food preference test, and that the lesions impaired learned taste aversion to a sucrose solution which had been paired with lithium chloride. Then the roles of noradrenaline and serotonin in the amygdala in these aspects of food intake were investigated. In Experiment 2, it was shown that injections of 10 and 20 nmoles of noradrenaline (NA) into the ABL increased the time spent eating familiar food in the food preference test. Higher doses of NA (50 and 100 nmoles) increased the total time spent eating without changing the preference of the rats for familiar or novel food, and produced behavioral side effects. Serotonin (5HT) injected into the ABL in doses of 10, 50 and 100 nmoles did not modify the pattern of choice of the foods. In Experiment 3, it was shown that depletion of NA in the ABL with 10 micrograms 6-hydroxydopamine did not alter the level of feeding of novel and familiar foods, but did impair taste aversion Depletion of 5HT in the ABL with 10 micrograms 5,7 dihydroxytryptamine did not alter food preferences or impair the taste aversion learning. The depletions of NA and 5HT were confirmed biochemically. These results provide further evidence for a role of the amygdala in preferences for novel as compared to familiar foods and in learning that the ingestion of a food is associated with sickness, and suggest that noradrenaline but not serotonin in the amygdala is involved in these types of control of food intake.     

Comparison of the interoceptive sensory consequences of CCK, LiCl, and satiety in rats

In three experiments we assessed the degree to which ad lib feeding, injection of cholecystokinin (CCK), and injection of lithium chloride (LiCl) produce states with similar sensory consequences. In each experiment, two groups of rats were trained to use cues arising from food deprivation and satiation as discriminative signals for shock. One group was shocked when deprived but not when nondeprived. The other group received the reversed discrimination. Testing began when incidence of freezing was greater under the shocked deprivation than under the nonshocked deprivation condition. In Experiment 1, the rats were tested under 24-hr food deprivation after injections of CCK, LiCl, and saline (in counterbalanced order). We reasoned that if either CCK or LiCl induce satiety-like states, they should promote patterns of responding different from those produced by saline but similar to those produced by ad lib feeding. The effects of CCK on freezing did not differ from those of saline, whereas both CCK and LiCl had effects that were different from ad lib feeding. This pattern of results was also obtained when deprivation level during training and testing was reduced to 8 hr (Experiment 1A) and also when rats received small amounts of food in conjunction with CCK (Experiment 2). The intubation of a high-calorie stomach load (Experiment 1A) produced a response profile like that observed after free feeding. Freezing after LiCl treatment differed from that observed after free feeding and from that found after injection of CCK. The results indicate that rats can differentiate between the sensory consequences of the states produced by CCK, by LiCl, and by ad lib feeding.