A brief-access test for bitter taste in mice

Area of Science:

• Gustatory Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior
• Sensory Science

Background:

• Inbred mouse strains exhibit varied responses to bitter compounds, typically assessed via long-term preference tests.
• These long-term tests may be influenced by factors beyond gustatory perception, complicating interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a brief-access taste test for assessing bitter taste function in mice.
• To evaluate the reliability of this test by comparing it with traditional long-term preference tests.

Main Methods:

• A brief-access taste test (5-second trials) was employed using water-deprived, trained mice.
• Responses of SWR/J, C3HeB/FeJ, and C3.SW congenic mice to varying concentrations of sucrose octaacetate (SOA) were recorded.
• Data from the brief-access test were compared with results from a parallel 48-hour preference test.

Main Results:

• The brief-access test successfully differentiated between SOA-taster and demitaster mouse strains.
• Concentration-response functions were consistent between the brief-access test and the 48-hour preference test.
• Pre-exposure to SOA did not alter concentration-response functions in the brief-access test.

Conclusions:

• The brief-access taste test is a valid and reliable assay for measuring bitter taste function in mice.
• This method minimizes post-ingestive confounding factors, providing a more direct measure of gustatory response.
• The findings support the use of brief-access tests for precise bitter taste research in rodents.