Aversiveness of Denatonium Saccharide and Quinine in Grasshopper Mice Onychomys Leucogaster

Abstract

The responses toward denatonium saccharide and quinine by three rodent species differ from those exhibited by humans. This study measured the relative aversiveness of these two compounds in grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogaster) to determine if this species responded similarly to or differently from these other rodents. In a choice test, the mice clearly preferred quinine over denatonium saccharide at concentrations of 1/10,000 and 1/50,000, but only marginally preferred quinine at a concentration of 1/1000. When denatonium or quinine was paired with toxicosis, both suppressed drinking at concentrations from 1/10,000 to 1/50,000, but only denatonium suppressed drinking at 1/100,000. Neither compound suppressed drinking at 1 part in million. Grasshopper mice perceived denatonium saccharide as more aversive than quinine in both experiments. Such a response resembled the behavior of humans more than that of the other three rodents previously tested.