Summary
When compared with sham-operated ad libitum-fed controls, weanling rats with lesions primarily destroying the dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei (DMNL rats) showed reduced ponderal and linear growth and food intake, normal carcass fat but increased carcass protein. Among the metabolic parameters measured, DMNL rats showed only decreased incorporation of palmitate into epididymal fat pad phospholipid and triglyceride. When sham-operated controls were pair-fed with DMNL rats, they showed growth changes almost identical with those observed in lesioned rats. However, their carcass protein was lower than both that of the lesioned rats and the ad libitum-fed controls. Metabolically, the sham-operated, pair-fed controls showed decreased incorporation of palmitate into triglyceride of epididymal fat pads and decreased oxidation of glucose and increased incorporation into total lipid of the diaphragm. When previous data on growth hormone, insulin, triglyceride and cholesterol are compared with the present findings it is suggested that dorsomedial lesions cause a subcaloric-type dwarfism that does not involve adenohypophyseal secretions and their target organs affecting growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernardis, L.L., Box, B.M., Stevenson, J.A.F.: Growth following hypothalamic lesions in the weanling rat. Endocrinology 72, 684–692 (1963).
—, Skelton, F.R.: Growth and obesity following ventromedial hypothalamic lesions placed in female rats at four different ages. Neuroendocrinology 1, 265–275 (1965/1966).
—: Growth and obesity in male rats after placement of ventromedial hypothalamic lesions at four different ages. J. Endocr. 39, 777 (1967).
Bernardis, L.L. Frohman, L.A.: Plasma and pituitary growth hormone levels in rats with hypothalamic lesions. Endocr. Soc. Ann. Meeting, Miami, Florida, p. 86 (1967).
—: Participation of the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus in the “feeding center” and water intake circuitry of the weanling rat. J. Neurovisceral Relat. 31, 387–398 (1970).
—, Frohman, L.A.: Effect of lesion size in the ventromedial hypothalamus on growth hormone and insulin levels in the weanling rat. Neuroendocrinology 6, 319–328 (1970).
—, Schnatz, J.D.: Localization in the ventromedial hypothalamus of an area affecting plasma lipid levels. J. Neurovisceral Relat. 32, 90–99 (1971).
Bernardis, L.L. Hypophagia, hypodipsia and hypoactivity following electrolytic lesions in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei of mature rats of both sexes. J. Neurovisceral Relat. (In Press).
—, Goldman, J.K.: Effect of hypothalamic lesion localization and size on metabolic alterations in weanling rat adipose tissue. J. Neurovisceral Relat. 32, 253–269 (1912).
Folch, J., Lees, M., Sloane-Stanley, G.H.: A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissue. J. biol. Chem. 226, 497–509 (1957).
Frohman, L.L., Bernardis, L.L.: Growth hormone and insulin levels in weanling rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions. Endocrinology 82, 1125–1132 (1968).
Frohman, L.A., Bernardis, L.L., Schnatz, J.D., Burek, L.: Effect of ventromedial hypothalamic lesions on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in weanling rats. Amer. J. Physiol. 216, 1496–1501 (1968).
Goldman, J.K., Bernardis, L.L., Frohman, L.A., Schnatz, J.D.: Glucose and fatty acid utilization by tissues of weanling rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions. Diabetes 17, 301 (1968).
Goldman, J.K., Schnatz, J.D., Bernardis, L.L., Frohman, L.A.: Role of growth hormone in hypothalamic obesity syndrome in weanling rats. Endocr. Soc. Ann. Meeting, New York, N.Y., paper No. 233 (1969).
—: Adipose tissue metabolism of weanling rats after destruction of the ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei: effect of hypophysectomy and growth hormone. Metabolism 19, 995–1005 (1970).
Goldman, J.K., Schnatz, J.D., Bernardis, L.L., Frohman, L.A.: Effects of preexisting streptozotocin diabetes on changes associated with destruction of the ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei. Amer. Diabetes Assn. Ann. Meeting, page 357–358 (1971).
Han, P.W., Lin, C.H., Chu, K.C., Mu, J.Y., Liu, A.C.: Hypothalamic obesity in weanling rats. Amer. J. Physiol. 209, 627–882 (1965).
Kennedy, G.C.: The development with age of hypothalamic restraint upon the appetite of the rat. J. Endocr. 16, 9–17 (1957).
Lowry, O.H., Rosebrough, N.J., Farr, A.L., Randall, R.J.: Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. biol. Chem. 193, 265–275 (1951).
Mess, B., Zanisi, M., Tima, L.: Site of production of releasing and inhibiting factors. In: The Hypothalamus, pp. 259–276. Ed. by L. Martini, M. Motta and F. Fraschini. New York and London: Academic Press 1970.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This investigation was supported by USPHS Grants HD 03331, AM 14418, NIH, a Veterans Administration Grant and a Veterans Administration Clinical Investigatorship (JKG).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bernardis, L.L., Goldman, J.K. Growth and metabolic changes in weanling rats with lesions in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei. Exp Brain Res 15, 424–429 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234127
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234127