Immobility in the tail suspension test predicts quinine but not saccharin intake in mice

It is assumed that depressive symptomatology can alter taste preferences in humans. The aim of the present study was to search for correlations between immobility in the tail suspension test (TST) and consumption of saccharin (0.0025-0.1%, w/w) and quinine (0.0024-0.04%) solutions. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into high immobility and low immobility groups based on their immobility scores in the TST. The groups consumed similar amounts of saccharin solutions in the two-bottle choice test. There were significant differences between the groups in quinine intake and preference. Intake of, and preference for, 0.0024% quinine was significantly higher in the high immobility than in low immobility subjects. In line with some animal and human studies, our results suggest that behavioral despair in the TST can correlate with taste responses to bitter stimuli.