Conditioned taste aversion induced by 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid: Dose-response and preexposure effects

Taste aversion to a.1% saccharin (sacc) solution was induced in rats by pairing sacc consumption with an oral dose of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). In Experiment 1, a critical dose range for producing taste aversion with 2,4,5-T was found from between 15 and 40 mg/kg and upwards. In Experiment 2, preconditioning exposure of the animals to sacc and/or the 2,4,5-T injection reduced the strength of the aversion. The possible risk of producing alterations of food preferences in wildlife through a widespread use of 2,4,5-T as a herbicide is discussed.