HYPERPHAGIA PRODUCED BY KNIFE CUTS BETWEEN MEDIAL AND LATERAL HYPOTHALAMUS IN RAT

A retractable wire knife was used to make transections between the ventromedial and lateral regions of the hypothalamus in the rat. Bilateral transections were produced in 5 rats with little or no damage to either nuclear area and resulted in hyperphagia and increased body weight. Another 5 rats suffered damage to the ventromedial hypothalamus in addition to the knife cuts. These rats showed a greater degree of hyperphagia and obesity. These results support the concept of dual hypothalamic feeding systems in the medial and lateral regions. Our data also suggest, however, that other neural or hormonal mechanisms may contribute to the hyperphagia-obesity syndrome. © 1969.