The role of the dopaminergic nigro-striatal system in aetiology of the lateral hypothalamic syndrome in cats (II): behavioural responses to regulatory challenges.

Far-lateral hypothalamus ( FLH ) and substantia nigra (SN) were destroyed by means of radio-frequency current (RF lesion) or neurotoxically (6-hydroxydopamine injection) in 4 groups of cats. Deficits in osmoregulatory thirst were observed only after RF lesions of FLH . Disturbances in gluco-regulatory eating were observed after RF destructions and injections of 6-hydroxydopamine to the FLH . Both methods of SN damage did not affect the behavioural responses of the animals to regulatory challenges. These results suggest that deficits in behavioural responses to regulatory challenges observed in LH syndrome in cats are not related to the function of the dopaminergic nigro-striatal bundle.