Effect of lithium chloride-induced aversion on appetitive and consummatory behavior.

The effect of lithium chloride-induced conditioned taste aversions on appetitive and consummatory behavior was determined. Rats were given access to a 0.1% saccharin solution for 15 min either in bottles or by infusion through an intraoral cannula. Bottle-fed rats given postprandial injections of lithium chloride showed greater aversion to saccharin than cannula-fed rats. During extinction, cannula-fed rats gradually recovered to control levels of intake, whereas bottle-fed rats continued to avoid the saccharin. These results suggest that lithium chloride affects appetitive behavior to a greater extent than it affects consummatory behavior.