Interaction of haloperidol and area postrema lesions in the disruption of amphetamine-induced conditioned taste aversion learning in rats

Abstract Two experiments were run to determine the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of an amphetamine-induced conditioned taste aversion. In the first experiment, it was shown that pretreatment with haloperidol (0.1–0.5 mg/kg, IP) attenuated, but did not prevent, taste aversion learning produced by amphetamine (3 mg/kg, IP). In the second experiment, combining area postrema lesions with haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg) pretreatment completely blocked the acquisition of an amphetamine-induced taste aversion. The results are interpreted as indicating that amphetamine-induced taste aversion learning has both a central component, which is mediated by dopaminergic receptors, and a nondopaminergic peripheral component, which is mediated by the area postrema.