Feeding behavior in monkeys with and without lesions of the hypothalamus
Hamilton, C.L.; Ciaccia, P.J.; Lewis, D.O.
American Journal of Physiology 230(3): 818-830
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 817609 Document Number: 106153
In monkeys (Macaca mulatta) without hypothalamic lesions, food intake increased with increasing age and bodyweight; food intake/kg bodyweight declined. As the monkeys became older, the amount of food intake converted to bodyweight decreased. Water intake was closely coupled to food intake. Both daily food and water intake were stable over a period of years. Monkeys with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions exhibited hyperphagia and increased feeding efficiency ratios leading to obesity. The obese developed diabetes mellitus. Monkeys with lesions restricted primarily to the arcuate nucleus showed no hyperphagia but increased feeding efficiency; somatotropin release decreased and serum insulin rose transiently.