Regulatory role of nucleus accumbens in the ingestion of sucrose and saccharine

Adult albino rats of Wistar strain of 200 to 250 g body weight were lesioned at nucleus accumbens either in the shell area or in core area. The rats were offered 0.2% saccharine solution or 12% sucrose solution or water for drinking. During the prelesion period, rats consumed more of saccharine followed by sucrose and water. The lesion of core area increased the consumption of both the sweet taste solutions but did not affect the water intake. Lesioning of shell area caused an increase in water and sucrose intake whereas saccharine intake remained unaffected. The results suggest that the core area of nucleus accumbens subserves taste induced ingestion and the shell area mediates the effect of nutritional value of food.