VENTROMEDIAL HYPOTHALAMIC NUCLEI AND FEEDING BEHAVIOR

The role of the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus (VMN) in food behavior was studied in adult male rats, allocated in 3 groups: control, sham and lesioned. Electrolytic lesions were induced stereotaxically (1.2 mA, 15 sec). Results revealed a significant decrease (p<O.05) in body weight (BW) and food intake (FI) in the order of lesioned <sham <control during the fIrst week. However, there were no significant differences in BW and FI between groups in the second week after lesion induction. In the lesioned group, the fInikiness syndrome was observed in the second week after lesioning. It was postulated that VMN lesions produce the finikiness syndrome, and this in turn can cause hyperphagia and hypothalamic obesity. Water intake (WI) was significantly lower in the lesioned group in the first and second week after VMN lesion induction. It could be postulated that disturbances in the regulation of WI is part of the VMN lesion syndrome.