Effect of Damage to the Amygdala on Stress Mechanism in Rats

Abstract

Twenty-six Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing around 300 gm. were divided into two equal groups. and in one group electrolytic lesion was produced under Nembutal in the amygdaloid nuclei on both sides (amygdala-damaged group), while the other group which underwent exactly the same produre except passage of current served as control. Seventy-two hours after the electrode placement. every rat was subjected to left adrenalectomy under ether and this procedure was regarded as a stress. Four hours after stress the animal was sacrificed by rapid decapitation and the ascorbic acid content of each adrenal gland was measured colorimetrically, Both amygdala-damaged and control group reacted to the stress with marked depletion of adrenal ascorbic acid content. But the decrease in adrenal ascoribic acid content following stress was less pronounced in amygdala-damaged rats than in control animals. The difference was significant at 2% level.