Effects of Psychotropic Drugs Upon the Hypothalamic Rage Response in Cats

Effects of Chlorpromazine (CPZ), Haloperidol (HLP), Pentobarbital (PTB), and Diazepam (DZP) upon thresholds of the hypothalamically elicited rage response, i.e., directed attack and threat responses, were studied in chronic cats. All these drugs elevated the directed attack thresholds. CPZ and HLP elevated also the threat response thresholds and produced ataxia, but DZP did not show these effects. From these results, it is suggested that CPZ and HLP suppressed the amygdalo-ventromedial hypothalamic nuclear and cerebellar functions and DZP suppressed the afferent pathway of the directed attack. PTB showed intermediate effects between the above two groups.