[Changes in sexual functioning in the male rat after total or anterior deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus].

After complete deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus in male rats, the luteinizing hormone content increased in the blood which correlated with an increasing of testosterone secretion, weight of seminal glands and additional sexual organs. Half of the operated animals preserve copulating ability. The content of folliculo-stimulating hormone in the blood of animals after the complete deafferentation was decreased, particularly in non-copulating males. After the interior deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus in the rats, the luteinizing hormone and testosterone contents in the blood did not change but the weight of seminal glands and concentration of folliculo-stimulating hormone in the blood decreased. The data obtained suggest different mechanisms of control of the luteinizing and folliculo-stimulating hormones secretion in male rats, the connection of the mediobasal hypothalamus with anterior hypothalamus and preoptic area being necessary for normal secretion of the folliculo-stimulating hormone.