The effect of simultaneous intraventricular administration of noradrenaline and dopamine on lateral hypothalamic syndrome in rats.

The effect of intraventricular administration of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA) or both on the lateral hypothalamic (LH) syndrome of aphagia and sensorimotor impairments was studied on 22 male hooded rats. It was found that 120 nmol of NA increased intake of palatable food in LH rats by 29.5 +/- 10.5 percent, 120 nmol of DA by 17.5 +/- 6.5 percent, and 60 nmol of simultaneously given each of catecholamine by 47.0 +/- 15.0 percent. Intraventricular catecholamines also induced the intake of normal food pellets even in completely aphagic rats. On the other hand they did not improve sensorimotor disturbances evoked by LH lesions. It is concluded that lateral hypothalamic aphagia may be attributed to the disruption of NA and DA pathways passing through LH and that these pathways potentiate the action of each other with regard to food intake.