Hypothalamic Control of Feeding and Self-Stimulation

TLDR

Hypothalamic sites that control feeding also regulate lateral hypothalamic self‑stimulation. The effect was shown in rats implanted with four intrahypothalamic electrode‑cannulas for electrical stimulation or chemical injection. Ventromedial excitation or excessive feeding inhibited lateral hypothalamic self‑stimulation, whereas ventromedial ablation or anesthetization accelerated both self‑stimulation and feeding, indicating that food signals through the ventromedial hypothalamus to suppress both feeding and lateral hypothalamic self‑stimulation.

Abstract

Hypothalamic sites which control feeding exert a corresponding control over lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation. This was demonstrated in rats bearing four, intrahypothalamic electrode-cannulas for electrical stimulation or chemical injection. Self-stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus was inhibited by ventromedial excitation or by excessive feeding. Both self-stimulation and feeding were accelerated (disinhibited) by ventromedial ablation or anesthetization. Thus food acts via the ventromedial hypothalamus to inhibit not only feeding, but also lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation.