Salivary reactions in dogs with dorsomedial amygdalar lesions.

In dogs with chronic parotid fistula, conditioned salivary reactions reinforced by food were established. After bilateral lesions of the dorsomedial part of the amygdaloid complex, the conditioned salivary reactions were greatly diminished. Also the unconditioned salivation decreased. This decrease was greater in dogs which revealed the whole syndrome of amygdalar aphagia, but it was also evident in hypophagic dogs. In some dogs, the disinhibition of the salivation to negatives CS was also observed. Results show that the dorsomedial amygdala, similarly to lateral hypothalamus, is involved in the regulation of salivary reactions.