Analysis of Taste Effectiveness of Thiourea Derivatives in Rats

In the present study, electrical responses of the chorda tympani nerve and behavior responses to thiourea derivatives in rats were determined. Also the relationships between these results and toxicity or water solubility of these compounds have been discussed.These were no close relationships amoung the thresholds for discrimination, taste effectiveness for the chorda tympani nerve, oral toxicity and water solubility of thiourea derivatives.The unpalatable taste effect of thiourea derivatives to rats was markadly lower than that of QU.Marked individual differences in the thresholds for discrimination were observed in PTU, TSZ and THU, but less in PU, UR and QU.THU, TSZ and PTU, having the functional group -C__1=S, had either lower thresholds for discrimination or more unpalatable taste effect than UR and PU which lacked the above mentioned functional group. However, such tendency of thiourea derivatives was not found in the results of nerve response. The present results indicate that general oral sensory information other than taste information will be more relevant in the determination of thresholds for discrimination of rats to thiourea derivatives. In PTU, TSZ and ANTU, a relationship between taste effectiveness and practical efficiency for rat-control has been discussed.