Neural tissue transplant in the lateral hypothalamic lesioned rats: functional recovery pattern

Transplantation has come of age as an important investigative tool for studying normal growth and development of the brain tissue. The present study reports the effect of lateral hypothalamic (LHA) lesion and foetal hypothalamic tissue transplantation on the feeding behaviour. In a group of rats, LHA was lesioned bilaterally by passing direct current. Subsequently, in a separate group of rats, foetal hypothalamic tissue was transplanted at the lesioned site. Following LHA lesion, all the rats died of aphagia and adipsia within 7 days, whereas, the rats in whom foetal hypothalamus was transplanted, started taking food and water in small quantities from the first day of transplantation itself. Later, they were able to attain their preoperative values. This recovery of the feeding behaviour following foetal tissue transplantation may be due to the formation of synaptic connections or due to the release of neurotrophic factors.