Electrolytic Lesion of Lateral Hypothalamus
Objective: Determine whether lesions of areas projected to by the central amygdaloid nucleus disrupt classical conditioning of autonomic and/or behavioral emotional responses, specifically testing lateral hypothalamus involvement in conditioned fear responses
This is a Electrolytic Lesion of Lateral Hypothalamus protocol using Not explicitly stated as the model organism. The procedure involves 4 procedural steps, 4 equipment items, 3 materials. Extracted from a 1988 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
Not explicitly stated • Not explicitly stated • Not explicitly stated • Not explicitly stated • Not explicitly stated • Not explicitly stated
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Create lesions in target brain regions • Recovery period • Classical conditioning
Primary readouts
- Conditioned arterial pressure response (autonomic measure)
- Conditioned freezing behavior (behavioral measure)
- Presence or absence of conditioned responses following lesions in different brain regions
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Create lesions in target brain regions
Lesions were made in three projection targets of the central amygdaloid nucleus: lateral hypothalamic area (LH), midbrain central gray (CG) region, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Lesions were created either electrolytically or by microinjection of ibotenic acid.
Note: Ibotenic acid destroys local neurons without interrupting fibers of passage, allowing distinction between neuronal involvement and fiber passage effects
View evidence from paper
“Lesions were made either electrolytically or by microinjection of ibotenic acid, which destroys local neurons without interrupting fibers of passage”
Recovery period
Allow animals to recover from lesion surgery before behavioral testing
Note: Two-week interval between lesion creation and conditioning
View evidence from paper
“Two weeks later, the animals were classically conditioned by pairing an acoustic stimulus with footshock”
Classical conditioning
Pair acoustic stimulus (conditioned stimulus) with footshock (unconditioned stimulus) to establish conditioned fear response
Note: Single conditioning session mentioned; specific parameters not detailed
View evidence from paper
“the animals were classically conditioned by pairing an acoustic stimulus with footshock”
Measure conditioned responses
The next day after conditioning, measure both autonomic and behavioral conditioned responses during extinction trials. Record increases in arterial pressure (autonomic response) and freezing behavior (behavioral response) evoked by the acoustic conditioned stimulus.
Note: Measurements taken during extinction trials; both autonomic and behavioral measures recorded simultaneously
View evidence from paper
“The next day, conditioned changes in autonomic activity (increases in arterial pressure) and emotional behavior ('freezing,' or the arrest of somatomotor activity) evoked by the acoustic conditioned stimulus were measured during extinction trials”