Study was made of 21 rats which responded by increased bar pressing for a stimulating current to the brain. These were allowed to self-stimulate for 4 or 8 hr. twice a week for 10 wk. At the end of this time the weights of the testes were found to be less than those of control animals and definite histologic changes were found in the adrenal glands. The weights and appearance of the pituitary, thyroid, and thymus glands, the seminal vesicles, and the ventral portions of the prostate glands appeared to be unchanged.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HerbergL. J.Seminal ejaculation following positive reinforcing electrical stimulation of the rat hypothalamus. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1963, 56, 679–685.
2.
HodosW.ValensteinE. S.Motivational variables affecting the rate of behavior maintained by intracranial stimulation. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1960, 53, 502–508.
3.
KriegW. J. S.Medial region of the thalamus of the albino rat. J. comp. Neurol., 1944, 80, 381–415.
4.
MacLeanP. D.PloogD. W.RobinsonB. W.Circulatory effects of limbic stimulation with special reference to the male genital organ. Physiol. Rev. (Suppl.), 1960, 40, 105–112.
5.
OldsJ.Effects of hunger and male sex hormone on self-stimulation of the brain. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1958, 51, 320–324.
6.
OldsJ.MilnarF.Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of the septal area and other regions of the rat brain. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1954, 47, 419–427.
7.
SetekleivJ.SkaugO. E.KaadaB. R.Increase of plasma 17-hydrocorticosteroids by cerebral cortical and amygdaloid stimulation in the cat. J. Endocrinol., 1961, 22, 119–127.
