DSP-4 lesion of locus coeruleus does not affect spontaneous predatory behaviour in cats

Abstract

The effect of the destruction of locus coeruleus noradrenergic (LC NA) projection on spontaneous predatory attack, predatory competition and food intake was studied in cats. Selective noradrenergic neurotoxin DSP-4 injected into LC caused 71 percent decrease of noradrenaline content in amygdala and 41 percent decrease in hypothalamus. Predatory behaviour, predatory competition as well as food intake remained unchanged. It is concluded that LC NA projection is specifically involved neither in predation nor in food intake, which is in agreement with recent electrophysiological data.