PVH lesions do not inhibit stressor-induced grooming in the rat.
Electrical and chemical stimulation of specific parts of the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) and the adjacent hypothalamus induce self-grooming responses in the rat. The function of this hypothalamic grooming area (HGA) is not understood. The localization of the HGA in the hypothalamus suggests that grooming, a behavioural response to stressors, is somehow linked to the neuroendocrine response to stressors. In this study it is shown that grooming induced by the stressors, mild restraint and moistening of the fur of the rat, is not inhibited by complete, bilateral radiofrequency lesions of the HGA. The changes in grooming patterns observed following lesions suggest that the HGA may have a function in the timing of different grooming elements.
van Erp
A M
AM
BFW/LACDR, Sylvius Laboratory, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
Kruk
M R
MR
Willekens-Bramer
D C
DC
Fermont
P C
PC
Nijsen
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006120:Grooming / Q000502:physiology*; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000502:physiology; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications
D010121:Oxytocin