Glucocorticoids attenuate taste aversions produced by toxins in rats.

Conditioned taste aversions (CTAs) develop if toxicosis is induced after an animal eats or drinks. Usually, if a second drug is administered after consumption and prior to the toxin, it either adds to the CTA produced by the toxin or else has no noticeable effect. However, glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, cortisol, methylprednisolone, and prednisolone) attenuate CTAs produced by cyclophosphamide. Dexamethasone was tested most extensively and is also effective against CTAs produced by carmustine, cisplatin, copper sulfate, cytarabine, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, lithium chloride, and mechlorethamine. Delta-9 THC, domperidone, haloperidol, metoclopramide, and scopolamine were ineffective against CTAs produced by cyclophosphamide, although they are used medically for palliative purposes. Prochlorperazine attenuated CTAs but to a much smaller extent than the glucocorticoids. These results are interpreted as cross-validation of recent reports that glucocorticoids alleviate clinically observed distress produced by cancer chemotherapies.