| Abstract: | In 4 experiments, 216 5-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups equipped with tongue cannulae placed either 2 mm rostral or 4–6 mm caudal to the intermolar eminence received sweet or salty solutions while suckling. This ingestion was followed by intraperitoneal injections of .3 M LiCl or isotonic saline. Ss with anterior cannulae took in considerably less fluid than controls when tested 5 or 16 days later. A series of control groups demonstrated that this acquired aversion was associative in nature. Ss with posterior cannulae did not form the association. It is suggested that the failure of 5-day-old Ss with posterior cannulae to form associations while suckling was not due to the prevention of conditioning by the act of suckling but instead resulted from the failure of the fluid to reach anterior taste receptors when injected into the posterior oropharynx, where the nipple normally empties its contents. Findings are discussed in terms of the transfer of information obtained during suckling to feeding and drinking during and after weaning. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
