EFFECT OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF THE LIMBIC SYSTEM ON PITUITARY-ADRENOCORTICAL FUNCTION: POSTERIOR ORBITAL SURFACE

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Abstract
The posterior orbital surface of the morphine pre-treated dog was electrically stimulated for ten seconds under direct vision following craniotomy. Jugular and adrenal venous blood was collected before, during, and after the stimulation to analyze for ACTH and 17-OHCS respectively. A sharp and transient rise of both ACTH and 17-OHCS was observed immediately after the stimulation, invariably accompanied by somatic responses such as elevation of blood pressure, twitching of nose, respiratory standstill, and pupillary dilatation. None of these responses was seen after stimulation of the anterior sylvian gyrus as control, in hypophysectomized ACTH maintained animals, and in sham-operated animals. Increase of blood ACTH in response to posterior orbital surface persisted after bilateral section of splanchnic nerve. The onset of increased adrenocortical activity, however, seemed to be considerably delayed.