EFFECTS OF LOCUS AND SIZE OF SEPTAL LESION ON CONSUMMATORY BEHAVIOR IN RAT

There have been many reports of enhanced drinking following septal lesions in the rat. In order to designate more precisely the responsible area or structure, the present study was conducted in which the size (15, 30 or 60 millicoulombs of applied current) and vertical placement (dorsal or ventral septal lesion) of the lesion were varied. The more ventrally placed lesions produced the most frequent change. The most significant finding was that large increases in intake, whether transitory or persistent, were associated with damage to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. No consistent relationship was demonstrated between postoperative water intake and damage to a given septal structure or group of septal structures. © 1969.