DEVELOPMENT OF VMH OBESITY IN VAGOTOMIZED RATS

In 3 different experiments, vagotomy failed to reverse or prevent the development of hyperphagia and obesity following VMH lesions. In the first experiment, previously vagotomized male rats were given bilateral VMH lesions after testing for completeness of vagotomy. In a second experiment on male rats, vagotomy preceded or followed VMH lesions, and testing for completeness of vagotomy was not carried out until the end of the experiment. In a third experiment obese VMH female rats were vagotomized before or after VMH lesions, and completeness of vagotomy was assessed histologically. In each experiment, vagotomized VMH rats displayed hyperphagia and became obese. Discrepancies between these results and those reported by others are discussed in terms of diet offered, surgical procedures, and the possibility of continuing malaise after vagotomy. © 1979.