Effects of substantia nigra stimulation on hypothalamic rage reaction in cats.

The effects of substantia nigra (SN) (pars compacta) stimulation on the rage reaction elicited by ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) were investigated in the cat. The studied parameters of the rage reaction were: the current and the frequency threshold for the appearance of the hissing and the hissing latency. A facilitatory effect induced by the SN on the hypothalamic rage reaction was observed in the form of a decrease in the hypothalamic stimulus threshold for the hissing appearance and a decrease in the hissing latency. Moreover, when the VMH was stimulated with parameters below the threshold for the hissing display, simultaneous nigral activation determined its appearance. The excitatory influence exerted by the SN on the affective component of the aggressive behavior is discussed.