Septal stimulation on painful and symbolic stress. Experimental study

Based on the rewarding effect of septal area, therapeutic stimulation of this region has been applied to surgical management of chronic pain. However some basic problems of this technique remain unsolved. Thus the effect of septal stimulation was tested on an experimental model of painful and symbolic stress, comparing the variations in the pituitary-adrenal axis activity, the peripheral catecholamine levels and the structural changes in gastric mucosa and adrenal glands, between the problem and different control groups. The bioelectrical activity of septal area and anterolateral hypothalamus during stimulation were recorded. A decrease in gastric ulceration and plasma cortisol were observed in the septal stimulation group. No direct influence on the catecholaminic system was noted. A facilitation of septal activity and its influence on hypothalamic rythm were found. All these effects were mainly achieved in the posterior perifornical septal region.