Ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion to ethanol.

A single injection of 2.5 g/kg ethanol one hr after drinking a 10% ethanol-0.05% saccharin solution produced a persistent conditioned taste aversion to the ethanol-saccharin solution. Twelve pairings produced a still stronger aversion that generalized to an aversion to a 10% ethanol solution without saccharin. Unpaired presentations of ethanol-saccharin solution and ethanol injections prevented the subsequent development of an aversion from a single pairing. Twelve pairings of access to saccharin solution with ethanol injections produced an aversion that generalized to an ethanol-saccharin solution. All groups receiving 12 alternate-day ethanol injections developed tolerance to the hypothermic effect of ethanol, but the tolerance was not conditioned to the drinking fluids previously paired with ethanol injections and it was unrelated to the subsequent drinking behaviors.