Abstract
Gonadal hormones influence responsiveness to an aversive quinine solution. The decrease in fluid consumption was proportionately greater for intact than for ovariectomized females when the water supply was adulterated with quinine sulfate. Quinine acceptance by ovariectomized rats was unaffected by treatment with estradiol benzoate or progesterone alone. In combination, these hormones were effective in decreasing intake of the bitter solution. In intact females, estrogens and progestins appear to act synergistically to increase reactivity to the aversive taste stimulus. The decrease in fluid consumption attributable to quinine adulteration was significantly smaller in pregnant and pseudopregnant rats than in unmated females. It is suggested that this effect is due to the decrease in estradiol and increase in progesterone secretion characteristic of these endocrine states. Male and female rats did not differ in responsiveness to the quinine solution. The results are compared with those from earlier studies on hormonal regulation of responsiveness to sweet substances. Possible neural mechanisms for the observed effects are discussed.
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