Iontophoretic microlesions with kainate or 6-hydroxidopamine in ventromedial prefrontal cortex result in deficit in conditioned taste avoidance to palatable tastants.

Iontophoretic microlesions with kainate or 6-hydroxidopamine in ventromedial prefrontal cortex result in deficit in conditioned taste avoidance to palatable tastants. Brain Res Bull. 2018 Oct 19;: Authors: Berta B, Péczely L, Kertes E, Petykó Z, Ollmann T, László K, Kállai V, Kovács A, Zagorácz O, Gálosi R, Karádi Z, Lénárd L Abstract Effects of kainate or 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA) lesions in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) on taste-related learning and memory processes were examined. Neurotoxins were applied by iontophoretic method to minimize the extent of lesion and the side effects. Acquisition and retention of conditioned taste avoidance (CTA) was tested to different taste stimuli (0.05 M NaCl, 0.01 M saccharin, 0.01 M citrate and 0.00025 M quinine). In the first experiment, palatability index of taste solutions with these concentrations has been determined as strongly palatable (NaCl, saccharin), weakly palatable (citrate) and weakly unpalatable (quinine) taste stimuli. In two other experiments vmPFC lesions were performed before CTA (acquisition) or after CTA (retrieval). Our results showed that both kainate and 6-OHDA microlesions of vmPFC resulted in deficit of CTA acquisition (to NaCl, saccharin and citrate) and retrieval (to NaCl and saccharin). Deficits were specific to palatable tastants, particularly those that are strongly palatable, and did not occur for unpalatable stimulus. The present...
Source: Brain Research Bulletin - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research