Cooperation counts (2007)

Winterborn, A.

Abstract

Rhesus macaques were trained to take juice from syringes. Operant conditioning for oral dosing has many applications. If macaques are trained to accept liquid from syringes, they can receive test compounds in pharmaceutical testing by voluntarily accepting the liquid and being rewarded for it. This functions as an alternative to the current practice of gavage. In addition, if an animal is trained to drink from a syringe, medication can be give orally instead of injected.