Radiation-conditioned Aversion in Rats after Part-body X-irradiation and Its Relationship to Gastric Emptying

Summary

Rats irradiated shortly after eating a barium meal may refuse to eat a second barium meal when tested 4 to 6 weeks later. Irradiation of the abdomen was about 60 per cent as effective as whole-body irradiation in producing this aversion, but irradiation of the head and shoulders was only 20 per cent as effective. Irradiation of parts of the abdomen readily produced aversions, but irradiation of the pelvis did not.

The strength of the aversion was closely correlated to the severity of the radiation-induced delay in gastric emptying which was observed when the initial barium meal was given, and it is concluded that gastric delay is normally the prime cause of the aversions. The few exceptions suggest that a further, possibly humoral, factor may also be involved when extra-abdominal tissues are irradiated.