Alcohol aversion in the rat: behavioral assessment of noxious drug effects.

Injections of p-chlorophenylalanine or n-butyraldoxime given after rats were first given a 10-minute drinking test with saccharin or ethanol solutions produced a learned aversion to these solutions. These findings suggest that the reduced self-selection of alcohol (preference) resulting from the administration of these drugs, reported by others, is not specifically alcohol-related. The technique described offers a sensitive procedure for the assessment of unpleasant effects of drugs.