Behavioral responses of beagles to saccharin mixed quinine

Abstract

Behavioral responses of beagles to sweet taste stimuli were observed. Short-term choice tests measured the amounts water, quinine hydrochloride (QHCl) solution, and mixed solutions of QHCl and saccharin that were drunk during 20 minutes after not providing water for 12 hours. The beagles drank less QHCl solution than water (p<0.05). Solutions of 0.1 mM QHCl mixed with 1.0 or 3.0 mM saccharin were drunk less than 0.1 mM QHCl alone. There was a significant concentration-dependent decrease (p<0.05) in the drinking of solutions of QHCl mixed with sweetener. Expression levels of the T1R3 sweet receptor in dog's tongue areas (front, central, and base) were examined by real-time PCR. Expression of T1R3 mRNA was higher in the front area of the tongue than in the central and base area. Beagles seem to taste saccharin but did not like the taste in the concentrations used in this study.