Effect of partial lesions of nucleus caudatus on food intake in cats

The experiments were performed on 15 cats divided into 3 groups. In the animals from group I with lesions placed in the medial part of the head of caudate nucleus (NC), hyperphagia and hypodipsia developed. In the group II, with lesions in the ventral part of the head of NC, hyperphagia was observed. In the group III, with lesions in the dorsal part of the head of NC, hyperdipsia developed. These data indicate that caudate nucleus (NC) is a part of the system regulating food intake. Differentiation of disturbances following lesions placed in different areas of NC may be due to simultaneous damage of two opposite systems in which NC is included: the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system and the noradrenergic system.