PMID: 6398807Jan 1, 1984Paper

Brain catecholamines and the central control of food intake

International Journal of Obesity
E M Stricker, M J Zigmond

Abstract

Analysis of motivated behaviors indicates the presence of two components, a component that is specific to a particular behavior and a nonspecific component that they all share. Thus, feeding and drinking may be readily differentiated from each other, yet behavioral arousal is a feature of both. Accumulating evidence now suggests that brain catecholamines are involved in the nonspecific aspects of behavior. For example, a variety of sensory stimuli have been shown to increase activity in central catecholaminergic systems measured by electrophysiological, biochemical and electrochemical techniques. Conversely, destruction of these systems leads to a profound decrease in sensory responsiveness. We have been studying the role of the dopamine-containing neurons of the nigrostriatal bundle in motivated behavior. Studies in which dopaminergic activity was monitored in striatum indicate that dopamine release is markedly, though briefly, elevated in response to a variety of intense environmental stimuli, including cold and tail shock. On the other hand, lesions of this pathway impair sensorimotor integration and, thereby, lead to akinesia, sensory neglect and the virtual elimination of all voluntary activities. Moreover, although there ...Continue Reading

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