Aversion to a cue acquired by its association with effects of an antibiotic in the rat.

Predicted that pairing an anorexigenic dose (.25-1 mg/kg) of cycloheximide with odorized food would induce conditioned aversion in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Results support the hypothesis and indicate that an antibiotic not only immediately depresses behavior but also changes later reactions specifically to sensory cues present during its metabolic action. Regulation of dietary intake and experiments on memory biochemistry are discussed.