Effect of hypothalamic lesions on rat anaphylaxis

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of anterior and posterior hypothalamic lesions on lethal anaphylaxis in the rat. Three groups of animals—control, posterior hypothalamic lesioned, and anterior hypothalamic lesioned—were sensitized to ovalbumin and subsequently challenged with various doses of the antigen. Dose-mortality curves were plotted for the control and two experimental groups. The three curves were demonstrated to be parallel. Ovalbumin was significantly less potent in the animals with anterior hypothalamic lesions than in both the control rats and those with posterior lesions. The protective action of anterior hypothalamic lesions against lethal anaphylaxis in the rat is discussed in terms of neuroendocrine processes, parasympathetic-sympathetic effects and antibody formation.