Paraventricular nucleus lesions in weanling female rats result in normophagia, normal body weight and composition, linear growth and normal levels of several plasma substrates.

Female weanling rats received small (1 mAmp for 5 sec) electrolytic lesions in the paraventricular nuclei. Sham-operated rats served as controls. The rats were maintained for 42 days and body weight, linear growth, Lee Index, food intake and efficiency of food utilization were determined throughout the study. Plasma glucose, glycerol, free fatty acids, total protein and carcass fat and protein were determined at sacrifice. There was no significant difference between the lesioned and the sham-operated rats in any of the parameters measured. The findings are interpreted to mean that the PVN of the weanling rat is not functionally mature or alternatively, that there exists a sex difference in weanling rats in response to PVN lesions.