Evidence for a role of the preoptic area in lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation

We examined the effects of unilateral radiofrequency lesions in the preoptic area on lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation in 15 rats. The animals were tested for self-stimulation in the lateral hypothalamus at 3 different current intensities from electrodes placed in both hemispheres, and then received a unilateral lesion in the preoptic area. Four hours later they were again tested for self-stimulation at the 3 current intensities and then daily over the following 14 days, or until they recovered their presurgical rates of self-stimulation. Rate of self-stimulation decreased in the damaged hemisphere, and recovered to prelesion levels within 2 weeks in 6 of 9 rats. In the intact hemisphere rate of self-stimulation increased above the prelesion level during a period from 1 to 2 weeks after the lesion. These results suggest that the preoptic area is involved in lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation. The effects of D-amphetamine (1 mg/kg) and apomorphine (2 mg/kg) injections on turning behavior were also studied in an open field and in a rotometer. Apomorphine induced contraversive turning to the lesion side in the open field and D-amphetamine induced ipsiversive turning in the rotometer.