Increase of self-mutilation behavior in forelimb deafferented rats, following stimulation of the dorsal raphe nucleus.
The role of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) was studied in rats which develop scratching or/and self-mutilation after deafferentation of brachial plexus. The extent of the lesions was measured in four groups of deafferented rats. Two control groups: implanted and not implanted, a group of animals in which DRN was stimulated, and a group in which it was electrolytically destroyed. We observed an increase of scratching and self-mutilation in the implanted group but overall in the stimulated group, and no change in the abnormal behavior was provoked by DRN lesion.
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000503:physiopathology*