Selective effects of benzodiazepines on the acquisition of conditioned taste aversion compared to attenuation of neophobia in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract

Pre-conditioning administration of chlordiazepoxide (CDZ; 6-24 mg x kg(-1), i.p.) and alprazolam (0.3-1 mg x kg(-1), p.o.) resulted in a CTA that did not differ initially from that observed in vehicle-treated controls, but which showed faster extinction. The acquisition of AN was impaired only after the higher doses of CDZ (12-24 mg x kg(-1), i.p.) or alprazolam (1 mg x kg(-1), i.p.). The results show that in this test, altered acquisition of an aversive CTA memory by anxiolytic benzodiazepines is reflected in more rapid extinction. Moreover, at low doses, these drugs showed selectivity for weakening CTA learning compared to AN learning. Evidence is discussed that selective weakening of aversive memory formation is a clinically relevant effect of anxiolytic benzodiazepines.

Association between SNAP-25 gene polymorphisms and cognition in autism: functional consequences and potential therapeutic strategies

“…SNAP-25 +/+ and SNAP-25 +/− mice were singly housed during the conditioned taste aversion (CTA) test. After mice were adapted to a restricted drinking schedule (20 min h −1 per day for 4 days), they were exposed to a saccharin solution (conditioned stimulus, CS; 0.5%) followed 1 h later by a malaise-inducing injection of LiCl (unconditioned stimulus, US; 0.14 M, 2% body weight, intraperitoneally) according to Callaerts-Vegh et al 31 After 24 h of wash-out (drinking water for 30 min), mice could freely choose to drink either saccharin solution or tap water during three daily choice tests. The mean amount of saccharin intake expressed as the percentage of total fluid consumed ((saccharin/saccharin+water) × 100) was taken as an aversion index.…”

Mechanisms of Action and Persistent Neuroplasticity by Drugs of Abuse

“…It is also plausible that BZs have more widespread neuroplasticity effects in other brain regions such as the HC (for chronic BZ withdrawal effects, see Shen et al, 2009), although the persistency and efficacy of single versus chronic dosing are still poorly known. However, it should be kept in mind that BZ agonists are especially efficient in reducing conflict arising from internal or external cues in simple and more complicated experimental animal tests, such as Vogel and Geller-Seifter conflict tests (Nazar et al, 1997;Millan and Brocco, 2003), and conditioned taste aversion and neophobia tests (Yasoshima and Yamamoto, 2005;Wislowska-Stanek et al, 2008;Callaerts-Vegh et al, 2009). Furthermore, the BZ lorazepam can reverse punishment-suppressed operant responding for the opioid remifentanil in rats (Panlilio et al, 2005), indicating its efficacy in reversing the aversion-induced change in behavior (a conflict situation, punishment by mild footshocks).…”