Ingestional aversion learning in preweanling rats.

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Abstract
Ingestional aversions were conditioned in 12 and 15 day old rats by infusing a .5% solution of saccharin into the oral cavity and following this oral infusion by the injection of lithium chloride. At both ages, subjects for which the saccharin exposure was followed by lithium injection within 2-3 min drank less when the saccharin solution was again presented by oral infusion 12 h later; such suppressions of intake were not observed in subjects that previously received the saccharin and lithium in an unpaired fashion. Ingestional aversions were also learned by 12 day olds when a 30 min interval was introduced between saccharin exposure and lithium toxicosis but not when toxicosis was delayed by 120 min. In contrast, 15 day olds learned aversions with both the 30 and 120 min delay intervals. Despite the absence of long-delay learning in 12 day olds, ingestional aversions conditioned at 12 days of age were retained for 2 wk. The associative abilities of neonatal rats and a developmental aspect of long-delay learning were discussed.

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