SNB Lithium Orotate CTA 2


Continuation of SNA Lithium Orotate CTA.

Test if lithium orotate (LiOr) induces a conditioned taste aversion comparable to LiCl, with a lower dose than SNA experiment

Single pairing of saccharin intake (15 min) after 15-min delay with isomolar doses of LiCl and LiOr to see if LiOr is more potent.

Lithium Orotate and CTA pt2
Taste Aversion
Expt CodeSNB
Start Date2026-3-13
InvestigatorsNabi, Houpt
FundingChair's Fund
Protocol20220000006
Expt TypeCTA
Speciesrat
Drugslithium orotate, lithium chloride
Data Linkhttps://houptlab.org/bartab/expt/?id=SNB

Data

Raw Data Link

People

Soheila Nabi

CTA Conditioning

Agenda

Rats arrive (2026-2-10), n= 16 adult male Sprague Dawley rats (Charles River CD, d.o.b 2025-12-15), individually housed in BRF 169.


Day 0: Water removed (2026-3-13)

make labels for bottles.


Days 1 - 6: Water Restriction (2026-3-14 thru 2026-3-19)

Weigh rats daily. ad lib food.

30 min, 30 min, 30 min, 30 min, 30 min, 15 min water at 900 daily.

1 water bottle, 1 empty bottle to accustom to 2-bottle choice


Day 12: Conditioning Day (2026-3-20)

0 min: 15 min access to 0.125% saccharin (5 g sodium saccharin/4L water)

30 min: rats injected with:

  • 75 mM NaCl, 6 ml/kg ip. (SNB01,04,07,10,13)
  • 75 mM LiCl, 6 ml/kg ip. (SNB02,05,08,11,14)
  • 75 mM LiOr, 6 ml/kg ip. (SNB03,06,09,12,15,16)

all injections made isotonic with TrisAmino:

  • 0.3 M TrisAmino
36.34g / liter, autoclave, pH to 7.4 with 38% HCl
  • 0.15 M LiOH
3.6g / liter (no need to autoclave)
  • 0.15 M LiCl
6.45g / liter, autoclave
  • LiOr = 75mM LiOrotate, 150mM TrisAmino
20 ml of 0.3M TrisAmino, 20 ml of 0.15M LiOH, 0.47g orotic acid, pH to 7.4 with LiOH, filter
  • LiCl = 75mM LiCl, 150mM TrisAmino
20 ml of 0.3M TrisAmino, 20 ml of 0.15M LiCl, pH to 7.4 with LiOH, filter
  • NaCl = 75mM NaCl, 150 mM TrisAmino
20 ml of 0.3M TrisAmino, 20 ml of 0.15M NaCl, pH to 7.4 with NaOH, filter


Ad lib water returned after final injection overnight.


Days 13 - 22: Preference Tests (2026-3-21 through 2026-4-1)

Rats CTA acquisition and extinction was measured with 24-h, 2-bottle preference tests. Rats were given 24-h free access to both 0.125% saccharin and water bottles, alternating position for 10 days.