Biomaterial Database

Midbrain interaction with the hypothalamus in expression of aggressive behavior in cats. 1977

A Romaniuk, and H Golebiewski

The effects of injections of M- and N-cholinergic blocking agents into the antero-medial hypothalamus (HM) and the midbrain central gray (GC) on the aggressive behavior of cats, evoked by microinjections of carbachol into those areas, were investigated in chronic experiments. The influence of pharmacological suppression of the M-cholinergic system in HM on the carbachol-induced aggression response from GC and vice versa was also studied. In the experiments a quantitative method was applied for measuring the specific vocalization - growling, which is a characteristic of aggressive behavior. In the HM and GC areas of the cat the N- and the M-cholinergic systems participated in the control of aggressive behavior, but the M-component dominated in the process. The suppression of M-cholinergic system in GC prevented the appearance of aggressive behavior evoked by injections of carbachol into HM, and the M-cholinergic blockade in HM reduced (by 90 percent) the aggression response evoked by the injections of carbachol into GC. It is concluded that a concurrent action of the hypothalamic and the midbrain cholinergic systems is necessary for the appearance of a fully expressed aggressive behavior. The hypothalamus and the midbrain are probably links of the same functional circuit, and that the control of aggressive behavior is based on a circulatory action between these structures.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007031	Hypothalamus	Ventral part of the DIENCEPHALON extending from the region of the OPTIC CHIASM to the caudal border of the MAMMILLARY BODIES and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the THIRD VENTRICLE.	Lamina Terminalis,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Area,Area, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Areas, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Preoptico Hypothalamic Area,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Areas
D008297	Male		Males
D008636	Mesencephalon	The middle of the three primitive cerebral vesicles of the embryonic brain. Without further subdivision, midbrain develops into a short, constricted portion connecting the PONS and the DIENCEPHALON. Midbrain contains two major parts, the dorsal TECTUM MESENCEPHALI and the ventral TEGMENTUM MESENCEPHALI, housing components of auditory, visual, and other sensorimoter systems.	Midbrain,Mesencephalons,Midbrains
D002217	Carbachol	A slowly hydrolyzed CHOLINERGIC AGONIST that acts at both MUSCARINIC RECEPTORS and NICOTINIC RECEPTORS.	Carbamylcholine,Carbacholine,Carbamann,Carbamoylcholine,Carbastat,Carbocholine,Carboptic,Doryl,Isopto Carbachol,Jestryl,Miostat,Carbachol, Isopto
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D005260	Female		Females
D006584	Hexamethonium Compounds	Compounds containing the hexamethylenebis(trimethylammonium) cation. Members of this group frequently act as antihypertensive agents and selective ganglionic blocking agents.	Compounds, Hexamethonium
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000374	Aggression	Behavior which may be manifested by destructive and attacking action which is verbal or physical, by covert attitudes of hostility or by obstructionism.	Aggressions
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia