Pharmacological alteration of hyper-reactivity in rats with septal and hypothalamic lesions

Abstract

Lesions were electrolytically placed in the septal area and/or hypothalamus of male albino rats using a stereotaxic instrument and well-defined co-ordinates. The effect of various types of pharmacological agents on the induced hyper-reactivity has been determined. All classes of compounds tested reduced to varying degrees the hyper-reactivity produced by septal lesions. Chlorpromazine and morphine also reduced the hyper-reactivity of rats with hypothalamic and hypothalamic-septal lesions, though only to a limited extent. Possible mechanisms and sites of action are discussed.