EFFECT OF AMYGDALOID LESIONS ON OESTROUS BEHAVIOUR IN THE DEERMOUSE

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Abstract
Lesions were placed bilaterally in the medial and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei of adult female deermice (P. m. bairdii) by means of a Radio Frequency Lesion Maker with a current of 20 [mu]A/30 sec. It was found that females with lesions in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus exhibited normal cyclic vaginal smears and mating activities. However, 30% of the females exhibited hypersexuality as evaluated by excessive mating and reception of the male during dio-estrus. Females with lesions in the medial amygdaloid nucleus exhibited normal oestrous cyclic activity, but did not mate during the entire 30-day period of the experiment. It is concluded that the medial amygdaloid nucleus may be involved in the nervous mechanism of normal mating.