PubMed · 487207
Differential hypothalamic self-stimulation behaviour in Roman high-avoidance and low-avoidance rats.
Abstract
Monopolar electrodes were implanted bilaterally and symmetrically into a small well defined region of the posterior lateral hypothalamus in 11 rats of the selected strains Roman high-avoidance (RHA/Verh, 6 animals) and Roman low-avoidance (RLA/Verh, 5 animals). Intracranial electrical stimulation (ICS) was used to study possible strain difference with respect to self-stimulation behaviour. Using a shuttle-box, the experimental set-up allowed measurements of the animal's preference, aversion, neutrality or ambivalence towards the stimulus. For both rat strains 10 electrode sites were tested with identical stimulation currents (100-600 microA in increments of 100 microA). Significant differences between the selected strains were found for preference (self-stimulation) and aversion: RLA/Verh-rats showed self-stimulation at lower stimulation currents than RHA/Verh-rats. At higher currents, both strains showed similar self-stimulation performance. RLA/Verh-rats escaped more often from ICS yielding self-stimulation at five of the six current levels. It is concluded that, in comparison with the RHA strain, RLA/Verh-rats are more sensitive to aversive effect of lateral hypothalamic stimulation. This seems to be associated with an increased sensitivity to the rewarding effects of such stimulation.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
H P Lipp. Differential hypothalamic self-stimulation behaviour in Roman high-avoidance and low-avoidance rats.. https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-9230(79)90041-8
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.