Involvement of basolateral nucleus & central nucleus of amygdala in the regulation of ingestive behaviour in rat.

Wistar albino rats were subjected to bilateral lesions of the basolateral nucleus of amygdala (BLA) and central nucleus of amygdala (CEA), individually and sequentially. The lesions of BLA increased the food and water intake significantly and that of CEA decreased the intake in rats. Sequential lesions of BLA and CEA (BLA-CEA & CEA-BLA), predominantly showed the lesion effects of BLA while the effects of lesion of CEA were masked in such animals. Thus it is concluded that BLA exerts an inhibitory influence while CEA exerts an excitatory influence on the ingestive behaviour and also that these centres interact with each other.