A protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide does not alter cue-induced reinstatement of saccharin seeking.

A large body of evidence indicates that reactivation of aversive memories leads to protein synthesis-dependent memory reconsolidation which can be disrupted by cycloheximide and other protein synthesis inhibitors. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cycloheximide would alter reconsolidation of the associations involving discrete cues paired with a sweet reward in an appetitive instrumental task. Rats trained to lever press for 0.1% saccharin were repeatedly tested for cue-induced reinstatement of non-reinforced responding for saccharin. CHX (3 mg/kg, s.c.) or its vehicle was injected immediately after each reinstatement session. The protein synthesis inhibitor did not alter the ability of the saccharin-paired cues to reinstate saccharin seeking. The present results suggest that passive re-exposure to saccharin-paired discrete cues in the reinstatement procedure does not lead to any cycloheximide-sensitive reconsolidation of the original associations.