Specificity of aversive stimulus properties of vasopressin

Rats injected SC with arginine vasopressin (AVP) following consumption of a milk solution developed a marked aversion to the taste of this solution. An analog of vasopressin devoid of pressor activity, dDAVP, was unable to induce conditioned taste aversion. The aversive stimulus properties of AVP were blocked by the vasopressor antagonist dPTyr(Me)AVP. This antagonist did not block apomorphine-mediated conditioned taste aversion. These results demonstrate that AVP induces conditioned taste aversion by interacting with vasopressor-like receptors.