Denatonium Saccharide as an Aversive Stimulus in a Conditioned Taste Aversion Paradigm

The ability of denatonium saccharide (DS) to function as an aversive stimulus for the rat was studied in a conditioned taste-aversion paradigm in two experiments. Exp. 1 assessed the effects of DS during a 30-min. access period when only a saccharin solution was available. Exp. 2 assessed the effects of DS during both a 10-and a 30-min. access period when a saccharin solution and free water were available. The results showed that DS did not attenuate saccharin consumption reliably over all test days. The effect was most apparent during the 10-min. interval when free water was available. These results, together with previous reports, suggest that DS appears to function as a weak aversive stimulus in the rat.