Aversive consequences of jejunoileal bypass in the rat: a conditioned taste aversion analysis

Jejunoileal bypass (JIB) surgery reduces food intake and body weight in obese humans and rats. Human bypass patients report visceral discomfort following surgery, and the present study assessed the aversive consequences of JIB in rats using a conditioned taste aversion paradigm. In Experiment 1 rats given a cherry-flavored solution immediately after JIB surgery subsequently displayed a strong aversion to the cherry flavor compared to Bypass and Sham-Bypass control groups. Rats in Experiment 2 were familiarized with cherry solution prior to surgery and they did not display an aversion to the solution after receiving a JIB. In Experiment 3, Bypass rats who developed a cherry flavor aversion after JIB subsequently lost this aversion following reconnection of their intestinal tract. The rats in Experiment 4 displayed an aversion to a saccharin-flavored chow that was eaten shortly after JIB surgery, although the aversion was not as pronounced as that obtained with the cherry solution. The results suggest that JIB produces a persisting malaise in rats that may contribute to the feeding and weight inhibitory effects of the operation.