Hyperphagia and obesity in rats with bilateral ibotenic acid-induced lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus.
Macro-electrophoretic applications of the cellular neurotoxin ibotenic acid into the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) resulted in hyperphagia and obesity in male rats. Histological examination showed a reduction in the number of neuronal VMH cell bodies with glial proliferation without evidence of non-specific damage. This supports the hypothesis that hyperphagia and obesity after VMH lesions are related to destruction of neurons intrinsic to the VMH.
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007051:Ibotenic Acid; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D007051:Ibotenic Acid