Either partial or near-total electrolytic destructionof the lateral septal area was performed on male rats, half of which were then subjected to food deprivation. Compared to either fed or deprived control animals there was no blockade of starvation-induced ACTH release in either lesioned group, as determined by thymus atrophy and plasma corticosterone levels; there was some evidence of an increased pituitary-adrenal function relative to controls. It is postulated that the quality and severity of the stress, and possibly the exact locus of the septal lesion may influence the degree of resultant interference with corticosteroid feedback systems. Evidence is presented that the resting level of plasma corticosterone is raised in animals with bilateral septal lesions.