Hypothalamic self-stimulation in rats following immunosympathectomy or central nerve growth factor antiserum injection

J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1975 Feb;88(2):528-33. doi: 10.1037/h0076392.

Abstract

In Experiment 1, immunosympathectomized rats self-stimulated at a much lower rate on high variable ratio schedules of reinforcement than injected controls. No differences were found for responding on continuous reinforcement or low variable ratio reinforcement schedules. In Experiment 2, a similar reduction in varialbe ratio response rate was found for subjects centrally injected with nerve growth factor-antiserum relative to controls. The results suggest a reduction in central catecholamine levels as a result of antiserum treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Catecholamines / metabolism
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Depression, Chemical
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Hypothalamus / physiology*
  • Immune Sera / pharmacology*
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Nerve Growth Factors / administration & dosage
  • Nerve Growth Factors / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Reinforcement Schedule
  • Self Stimulation*
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / drug effects*
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / metabolism

Substances

  • Catecholamines
  • Immune Sera
  • Nerve Growth Factors