, Korea) and acclimated to the laboratory condition in a specific-pathogen-free barrier area where the temperature (22 ± 1 °C) and humidity (55%) were controlled constantly with a 12/12 h light/dark cycle (lights-on at 07:00 AM). Rats had ad libitum access to standard laboratory food (Purina Rodent Chow, Purina Co., Seoul, Korea) and tap water. All rats were habituated in the animal colonies at least for a week and were cared according to the Guideline for Animal MAPK inhibitor Experiments, 2000, edited by the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, which is consistent with the NIH Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, revised 1996.

All animal protocols were approved by the Committee for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals at Seoul National University. Rats were anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of a 4:1 mixture of ketamine hydrochloride (100 mg/kg, Ketara®, Yuhan, Korea) and xylazine hydrochloride (25 mg/kg, Rumpun®, Bayer,

Korea), and placed on the surgical plate equipped with a non-traumatic head holder. The surgical field was prepared selleck products by hair trimming and applying 10% povidone iodine, and then, a ventral–medial incision was made in the neck. Digastric and masseter muscles were bluntly dissected to allow the visualization of the chorda tympani nerve and lingual nerve as it bifurcated from the lingual branch of the trigeminal nerve. Transection of the lingual and chorda tympani nerve (Nx) was made using sharp microfine Dichloromethane dehalogenase forceps; the proximal and distal stumps of the nerve cuts were visualized to verify complete transection. The wound was closed in a single layer by the use of 4-0 Nylon sutures (Ethicon®, UK). Sham surgeries were processed in an identical manner, but the nerves were not touched. Body weight gain and food intake were monitored during the post-operational

recovery period. Sucrose drinking test was performed after 10 days of post-operational recovery. Rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6–8 in each group, total 28 rats); i.e., Nx groups that received either 1% or 5% sucrose and sham operated groups that received either 1% or 5% sucrose. Rats in each group were deprived from water, but not chow, for 20 h prior to the drinking test, and received free choices of sucrose solution and water for 30 min. The test sessions were repeated for 3 consecutive days, and the positions of sucrose and water bottles were exchanged daily. Another groups of Nx and sham operated rats (n = 6 in each group, total 12 rats) were subjected to the ambulatory test at 20 days after the surgery. On each trial, the rat was placed in the centre of the activity chamber (43.2 cm in length, 42.2 cm in width, and 30.5 cm in height, MED Associates, VT, USA), a transparent acryl chamber equipped with two horizontal planes of 16 infrared photocell-detector pairs placed in x, y dimension, spaced 2.5 cm apart, and its ambulatory activity was monitored by the computerized system for 30 min.