Elsevier

Physiology & Behavior

Volume 26, Issue 2, February 1981, Pages 269-275
Physiology & Behavior

Midbrain reticular formation damage and the ontogeny of ingestive and sensorimotor behaviors

https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(81)90022-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Infant rats sustained bilateral electrolytic lesions of the midbrain reticular formation (MBRF) at 10 days of age. Growth measures and tests of sensorimotor, feeding, drinking, and gustatory capacities were made between 1 and 150 days of age. The MBRF rats displayed a transient period of attenuated suckling, as evidenced by body weight loss, and recovery of growth by the age of weaning. In conjunction with the period of altered growth, MBRF rats displayed some specific sensorimotor deficits and were extremely hyperactive. As adults, MBRF rats were hypodipsic during 24 hr food deprivation and after 24 hr water deprivation. On other drinking tests, feeding tests, and taste tests, MBRF rats responded at control levels. These results are comparable to the behavioral deficits displayed by rats sustaining MBRF damage as adults.

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    This research was supported by O.U.R.C. Grant No. 520 to C. Robert Almli. D. L. Hill is now at the School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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