Odor Stimulation and Relation to Taste Stimuli in the Blind Cave Fish Astyanax fasciatus

Abstract

The influence of odor stimulation with solutions of the amino acids L-glutamine and L-phenylalanine on the response of the cave fish Astyanax fasciatus (blind form) to the taste of agar pellets with L-glutamine and L-phenylalanine has been studied. It has been established that the odors used cause a food search behavior in fish, but do not affect the orosensory testing of the pellets. It is noted that the taste characteristics of both amino acids differ in the evaluation of the extraoral and oral taste systems, which indicates food selectivity in the blind cave fish, the food of which in its habitats is extremely monotonous. The attitude to the taste of amino acids is stable with a different smell background and a changing combination of odor and taste stimuli.