THC-induced place and taste aversions in Lewis and Sprague-Dawley rats.

The hedonic properties of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were assessed in place and taste conditioning paradigms in both Lewis and Sprague-Dawley rat strains. THC produced place avoidance, taste avoidance, and aversive taste reactivity responses in both strains. The Lewis strain displayed more aversive taste reactions and a stronger taste avoidance when conditioned with lower doses of THC than did the Sprague-Dawley strain of rats. THC is an anomalous drug of abuse that appears to be aversive to rats when assessed by these measures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)