Electrical self-stimulation deficits in the anterior and posterior parts of the medial forebrain bundle after ibotenic acid lesion of the middle lateral hypothalamus.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the involvement of the intrinsic neurons located in the middle lateral hypothalamus in electrical self-stimulation measured with electrodes in the anterior and posterior parts of the medial forebrain bundle. In rats without hypothalamic lesions, self-stimulation rates from both anterior and posterior electrodes were similar on either side of the brain. For all rats with ibotenic acid-induced lesions in the lateral hypothalamus, self-stimulation rates were lower with electrodes in the area of the lesion, while self-stimulation on the contralateral side was normal. In rats with electrodes in the anterior hypothalamus, the lesion produced a large deficit when stimulation was applied to the anterior electrode ipsilateral to the lesion. Only three rats showed a decrease in self-stimulation with stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic electrode ipsilateral to the lesion; self-stimulation of the other three rats was normal. These results suggest that self-stimulation in the anterior part of the medial forebrain bundle is supported by long fibers originating in the middle part of the lateral hypothalamus, while self-stimulation in the posterior part of the lateral hypothalamus can be influenced by another system not involved in reward processes observed in the rostral part of the medial forebrain bundle.