Electrical Stimulation of the Basolateral Amygdala Elicits Only Growth Hormone Secretion Among Six Anterior Pituitary Hormones in the Pentobarbital‐Anesthetized Male Rat

Abstract

In order to investigate the role of the basolateral amygdala on secretion of the adenohypophyseal hormones, the basolateral amygdala was electrically stimulated for 10 min through a chronically implanted electrode in the pentobarbital-anesthetized adult male rat. Blood samples were withdrawn through a Silastic cannula implanted in the right atrium. Electrical stimulation of the basolateral amygdala increased plasma growth hormone, decreased plasma follicle-stimulating hormone and suppressed the increase in plasma adrenocorticotropin. Plasma prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were not significantly changed. These results indicate that electrical stimulation of the basolateral amygdala in the pentobarbital-anesthetized adult male rat causes a simultaneous change in secretion of several adenohypophyseal hormones.