| Abstract: | The taste preferences of six adult squirrel monkeys for sucrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, and maltose were assessed in two-solution choice tests of brief duration (5 min). In experiment 1 the monkeys were given the choice between all binary combinations of the saccharides presented in equimolar concentrations of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mM, respectively. Preferences for individual sugars were stable across the concentrations tested and indicate an order of relative effectiveness (sucrose > fructose > glucose ≥ maltose ≥ lactose), which is identical to the order of sensitivity found in this species and similar to findings on relative sweetness in man. In experiment 2 the squirrel monkeys were given the choice between a standard sucrose solution of 50 mM and ascending series of concentrations of the other saccharides in order to determine concentrations that were consumed in equal amounts compared to the standard. Solutions of 100 mM fructose, 300 mM glucose, and 200 mM lactose and maltose were found to be equally effective to the 50 mM sucrose, whereas other concentrations led to marked preferences for one of the alternatives. The finding of concentrations of equal effectiveness are consistent with findings on concentration-dependent loss of discrimination ability in man and support the hypothesis that for squirrel monkeys sucrose may indeed be indiscriminate from fructose, glucose, lactose and maltose when concentrations are suitably adjusted. The results suggest that squirrel monkeys and man share important features of sweet-taste perception. |
