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PubMed1995

Afferent projections to the lateral and dorsomedial hypothalamus in a lizard, Gekko gecko.

Afferent projections to the lateral hypothalamic area and dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus of the lizard Gekko gecko were studied after applications of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Large applications into the hypothalamus labeled several telencephalic populations not observed after smaller injections. These included the rostrolateral area of the dorsal cortex, a sheet of cells deep to the caudal pole of the lateral cortex, the external amygdala, and part of the dorsal ventricular ridge. Other populations were labeled in the diencephalon, including the supraoptic nucleus and nucleus ovalis; in the medulla the medial reticular area was labeled. Injections into the lateral hypothalamic area labeled neurons in the rostrolateral dorsal cortex, anterior, lateral, and dorsal septal nuclei, the striatoamygdalar area, nucleus accumbens, vertical limb of the diagonal band, nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract, the interstitial, ventral anterior, and ventral posterior amygdalar nuclei, several hypothalamic nuclei, and the posteroventral thalamic nucleus. Labeled brainstem populations included the ventral tegmental area, torus semicircularis, parvocellular and ventral isthmal nuclei, superior raphe, and the solitary nucleus. Injections in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus labeled neurons in the rostral and caudolateral poles of the dorsal cortex, anterior septal nucleus, horizontal limb of the diagonal band, nucleus of the anterior commissure, several hypothalamic areas, the lateral habenula, the posteroventral thalamic nucleus, and cells scattered around the dorsolateral anterior thalamic nuclei. Labeled brainstem populations included the torus semicircularis, ventral tegmental area, superior raphe, parvocellular and ventral isthmal nuclei, and the lateral dorsal tegmental nucleus. The results of these studies are compared with findings in amphibians and mammals.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed1985

Feeding suppression induced by a fecal anorexigenic substance (FS-T).

Intraperitoneal (IP) injection of a fecal anorexigenic substance (FS-T) induced significant suppression of feeding and this suppression recovered on the second day. At 2 hr after IP injection, at the time of maximum feeding suppression, plasma glucose, insulin and free fatty acid (FFA) levels did not change but amino acid level decreased. Intra-third cerebral ventricle (ICV) infusion of FS-T induced parallel but more potent feeding suppression. Analysis of meal patterns demonstrated that suppression of feeding after ICV treatment continued into the second day. FS-T was applied electrophoretically to glucose-sensitive and non glucose-sensitive neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and to glucoreceptor and non glucoreceptor neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH). It significantly inhibited glucose-sensitive neurons but not non glucose-sensitive neurons, and excited both neuron types in the VMH. FS-T might thus work directly through the hypothalamic feeding control centers to suppress feeding. Even after pronase treatment of FS-T, a non-dialysable fraction of large molecular weight, consisting of protein and carbohydrate, maintained the original anorexigenic activity.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1985

Driven shield for multi-barrel electrode.

A driven shield for a nine-barrel micropipette containing a carbon fiber recording electrode in the center barrel is described. Two of the nine surrounding micropipettes were used as a driven shield channel to reduce capacitance between the recording electrode and the brain tissue. This method facilitates recording of single neuron activity, even in deep areas of the monkey brain, such as the amygdala and lateral hypothalamic area.

Amygdala↗

PubMed2000

Differential expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase in hypothalamic areas of obese Zucker rats.

Several studies have suggested that the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) may be involved in the regulation of food intake in the genetically obese Zucker rats. In the present study, we investigated the expression of NOS in various hypothalamic regions of obese and lean Zucker rats using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemistry. Obese Zucker rats showed significantly lower staining intensities of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) than lean Zucker rats did. The differences in staining intensities between obese and lean Zucker rats were large in both the PVN and LHA, but such differences were relatively small in the VMH.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

The efferent connections of the anterior hypothalamic area of the rat, cat and monkey.

The general morphology and topographic relations of the anterior hypothalamic area (AHA) in the rat, cat and squirrel monkey have been described, and its efferent connections analyzed autoradiographically, after small injections of 3H-labeled amino acids into, or around, the area. In all three species the AHA is rather poorly separated from the surrounding preoptic and hypothalamic areas and nuclei but shows three distinct cellular condensations, located rostrally, centrally, and posterodorsally. Closely associated with the AHA are the retrochiasmatic area, the anterior periventricular nucleus and the scattered neurons usually referred to as the accessory supraoptic nucleus. The AHA has primarily short connections to the adjoining medial preoptic area, the lateral hypothalamic area, the periventricular nucleus, the dorsomedial nucleus, and to the "capsule" of the ventromedial nucleus. However, it also has certain more distant projections, rostrally to a narrow zone centered in the ventral part of the lateral septal nucleus, and caudally to the dorsal premammillary nuclei, the posterior hypothalamic area and the central gray. There is some evidence to suggest that the various subdivisions of the AHA have different efferent connections. Thus the posterodorsal cell condensation appears to give rise to the bilateral projection to the dorsal premammillary nuclei, while the projections to the septum, the posterior hypothalamic area and the central gray seem to have their origin in the central condensation. Similarly, the retrochiasmatic area sends its efferents through the ventral supraoptic commissure to the amygdala, the anterior periventricular nucleus contributes to the periventricular fiber system and to the external lamina of the median eminence, and the accessory supraoptic neurons project to the internal lamina of the median eminence.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Effects of hypothalamic lesion on pancreatic autonomic nerve activity in the rat.

The effects of hypothalamic lesions and intravenous glucose infusion on the efferent activity of vagal and splanchnic nerves to the pancreas were studied in anesthetized rats. Lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH), the dorsomedial hypothalamic (DMH) and the paraventricular (PVN) nuclei increased vagal and reduced splanchnic nerve activity. Lesion of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) decreased pancreatic vagal nerve activity, and produced either increased or decreased activity of pancreatic splanchnic nerve. Intravenous glucose infusion increased activity of the vagal nerve and reduced that of the splanchnic nerve. These glucose responses were influenced by hypothalamic lesions only slightly or not at all. The findings suggest that hypothalamic modulation of pancreatic hormone secretion involves both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, and provide evidence that not only the VMH and the LHA but also the DMH and the PVN are involved in this mechanism.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Hypothalamic neuronal activity responses to 3-hydroxybutyric acid, an endogenous organic acid.

To elucidate the anorectic action of the endogenous organic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3-HBA), its effects on neurons in both the rat ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) were examined. Iontophoretic application of 3-HBA significantly facilitated the firing rate of VMH neurons, whereas facilitation and inhibition were observed in the LHA. These responses were specific to the glucoreceptor neurons in the VMH and glucose-sensitive neurons in the LHA. Intracellular recordings from brain slice preparations revealed that 3-HBA depolarized the cell membrane of the VMH neuron with an associated increase of membrane input resistance. This was similar to the effect of glucose on glucoreceptor neurons in the VMH. These results suggest that 3-HBA may modulate hypothalamic chemosensitive neuron activity as well as function as an endogenous satiety factor.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

PubMed2003

Chemical coding of GABA(B) receptor-immunoreactive neurones in hypothalamic regions regulating body weight.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interacts with hypothalamic neuronal pathways regulating feeding behaviour. GABA has been reported to stimulate feeding via both ionotropic GABA(A) and metabotropic GABA(B) receptors. The functional form of the GABA(B) receptor is a heterodimer consisting of GABA(B) receptor-1 (GABA(B)R1) and GABA(B) receptor-2 (GABA(B)R2) proteins. Within the heterodimer, the GABA-binding site is localized to GABA(B)R1. In the present study, we used an antiserum to the GABA(B)R1 protein in order to investigate the cellular localization of GABA(B)R1-immunoreactive neurones in discrete hypothalamic regions implicated in the control of body weight. The colocalization of GABA(B)R1 immunoreactivity with different chemical messengers that regulate food intake was analysed. GABA(B)R1-immunoreactive cell bodies were found in the periventricular, paraventricular (PVN), supraoptic, arcuate, ventromedial hypothalamic, dorsomedial hypothalamic, tuberomammillary nuclei and lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Direct double-labelling showed that glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)-positive terminals were in close contact with GABA(B)R1-containing cell bodies located in all these regions. In the ventromedial part of the arcuate nucleus, GABA(B)R1-immunoreactive cell bodies were found to contain neuropeptide Y, agouti-related peptide (AGRP) and GAD. In the ventrolateral part of the arcuate nucleus, GABA(B)R1-immunoreactive cell bodies were shown to contain pro-opiomelanocortin and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript. In the LHA, GABA(B)R1 immunoreactivity was present in both melanin-concentrating hormone- and orexin-containing cell populations. In the tuberomammillary nucleus, GABA(B)R1-immunoreactive cell bodies expressed histidine decarboxylase, a marker for histamine-containing neurones. In addition, GAD and AGRP were found to be colocalized in some nerve terminals surrounding GABA(B)R1-immunoreactive cell bodies in the parvocellular part of the PVN. The results may provide a morphological basis for the understanding of how GABA regulates the hypothalamic control of food intake and body weight via GABA(B) receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

[Neuronal reactions of the lateral area of the hypothalamus in the rat to stimulation of taste and viscerochemoreceptors].

Unit activity from the rat lateral hypothalamic area was studied in stimulation of tongue taste receptors and chemoreceptors of intestine with salt and acid solutions. 80% of neurons were found to exhibit regular changes in rate of discharges evoked chemical stimulation of either one ("taste", "viscerochemical") or both receptive areas ("convergence" type). When different concentrations of NaCl were applied for stimulation of visceroreceptors, the most pronounced response occurred in minimal (0.05 M) and maximal (0.3 M) concentrations of NaCl used. Some units selectively responded to only one solution. Neurons responding to more than one solution could increase their rate of discharges in one solution and decrease it in another. In "convergence" neurons these distinctions were revealed during application of the same solutions to different receptive zones.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Antinociceptive effects of stimulation of discrete sites in the rat hypothalamus: evidence for the participation of the lateral hypothalamus area in descending pain suppression mechanisms.

The sites in the rat hypothalamus where microinjection of morphine (5 micrograms/0.5 microliters) or electrical stimulation depresses the tail withdrawal reflex to noxious heating of the skin were examined. Among other hypothalamic sites found to be sensitive to morphine or to an electrical stimulus, the posterior part of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) was the only portion of the hypothalamus that was strongly sensitive to both manipulations. A 15-sec period of 35 microA sine-wave stimulation of the LHA significantly increased the latency of the tail reflex for periods up to 30 min. The effects of intraperitoneal administration of antagonists to opioids (naloxone), 5-hydroxytryptamine (methysergide), noradrenaline (phenoxybenzamine), dopamine (haloperidol), and acetylcholine (atropine and mecamylamine) on the antinociceptive effects of LHA stimulation were also examined. Naloxone, methysergide, and atropine (all given at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) attenuated the effects of LHA stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. Phenoxybenzamine but not haloperidol (both at the dose of 1.0 mg/kg), was also effective but dose-dependent curves could not be constructed. Mecamylamine (1.0 mg/kg) reduced the duration but not the peak effect of stimulating the LHA. We conclude that antagonism at the level of opioid, serotonergic, adrenergic, and muscarinic cholinergic receptors, but not dopamine or nicotinic cholinergic receptors, reduces the antinociceptive effects of LHA stimulation. This may imply that antinociception evoked from the LHA depends on the activation of descending pathways that relay in the mesencephalic periaqueductal gray matter and then in the nucleus raphe magnus and/or nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

PubMed1985

Prosencephalic afferents to the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus.

The afferent projections from the prosencephalon to the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD) were studied in the cat by use of the method of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Cortical and subcortical prosencephalic structures project bilaterally to the MD. The cortical afferents originate mainly in the ipsilateral prefrontal cortex. The premotor, prelimbic, anterior limbic, and insular agranular cortical areas are also origins of consistent projections to the MD. The motor cortex, insular granular area, and some other cortical association areas may be the source of cortical connections to the MD. The subcortical projections originate principally in the ipsilateral rostral part of the reticular thalamic nucleus and the rostral lateral hypothalamic area. Other parts of the hypothalamus, the most caudal parts of the thalamic reticular nucleus, the basal prosencephalic structures, the zona incerta, the claustrum, and the entopeduncular and subthalamic nuclei are also sources of projections to the MD. Distinct, but somewhat overlapping areas of the prosencephalon project to the three vertical subdivisions of MD (medial, intermediate, and lateral). The medial band of the MD receives a small number of prosencephalic projections; these arise mainly in the caudal and ventral parts of the prefrontal cortex. Cortical projections also arise in the infralimbic area, while subcortical projections originate in the medial part of the rostral reticular thalamic nucleus and lateral hypothalamic area. The intermediate band of the MD receives the largest number of fibers from the prosencephalon. These arise principally in the intermediate and dorsal part of the lateral and medial surface of the prefrontal cortex, the premotor cortex, and the prelimbic and agranular insular areas. Projections also originate in basal prosencephalic formations (preoptic area, Broca's diagonal band, substantia innominata, and olfactory tubercle), rostral reticular thalamic nucleus, and lateral hypothalamic area. A large number of prosencephalic structures also project to the lateral band of the MD. These are mainly the most dorsal and caudal parts of the lateral and medial surface of the prefrontal cortex, the premotor and motor cortices, and the prelimbic, anterior limbic, and insular areas. Projections arise also in the lateral rostral and caudal parts of the reticular thalamic nucleus, the zona incerta, the lateral and dorsal hypothalamic area, the claustrum, and the entopeduncular nucleus. These and previous results demonstrate a gradation in the afferent connections to the three subdivisions of the MD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neural sites and pathways regulating food intake in birds: a comparative analysis to mammalian systems.

The paper reviews hypotheses explaining the regulation of food intake in mammals that have addressed specific anatomical structures in the brain. An hypothesis, poikilostasis, is introduced to describe multiple, homeostatic states whereby the regulation of metabolism and feeding occur in birds. Examples are given for both wild and domestic avian species, illustrating dynamic shifts in homeostasis responsible for the changes in body weights that are seen during the course of an annual cycle or by a particular strain of bird. The following neural structures are reviewed as each has been shown to affect food intake in birds or in mammals: ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (n.), lateral hypothalamic area, paraventricular hypothalamic n., n. tractus solitarius and area postrema, amygdala, parabrachial n., arcuate n. and bed n. of the stria terminalis. Two neural pathways are described which have been proposed to regulate feeding. The trigeminal sensorimotor pathway is the most complete neural pathway characterized for this behavior and encompasses the mechanics of pecking, grasping and mandibulating food particles from the tip of the bill to the back of the buccal cavity. A second pathway, the visceral forebrain system (VFS), affects feeding by regulating metabolism and the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Wild, migratory birds are shown to exhibit marked changes in body weight which are hypothesized to occur due to shifts in balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Domestic avian species, selected for a rapid growth rate, are shown to display a dominance of the parasympathetic nervous system. The VFS is the neural system proposed to effect poikilostasis by altering the steady state of the autonomic nervous system in aves and perhaps is applicable to other classes of vertebrates as well.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Influence of electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus on ovarian steroidogenesis in hypophysectomized and adrenalectomized rats.

The effects of electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), periventricular arcuate nucleus (ARC) and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) on the rates of 14C transfer from 14C-1 acetate into ovarian steroids in ovarian slices of hypophysectomized and adrenalectomized (H-A) rats were investigated. The 14C transfer rates into estrogen and 20 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (20 alpha-OH-P) were decreased by LHA stimulation. The stimulation of the ARC and VMH increased the rates of 14C transfer into estrogen, progesterone and 20 alpha-OH-P. From these results, it might be suggested that these hypothalamic structures were involved in the regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis without participation of the pituitary and adrenal.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

PubMed1984

Activity of putative oxytocin neurones during reflex milk ejection in conscious rabbits.

Extracellular electrical recordings were taken from twenty antidromically identified paraventricular neurones in unanaesthetized, unrestrained rabbits. Neuronal activity was correlated with nursing behaviour of the doe and responses of the young during suckling. Magnocellular neurones were divided into two groups on the basis of their activity in suckling. Group 1 (n = 14) showed several discrete bursts of high-frequency activity whilst neurones in group 2 (n = 6) did not. Neurones in group 1 showed 5-9 bursts of high-frequency activity in suckling. Each burst lasted 1-4 s and represented a 3-10-fold rise in the discharge of the cell. These units were classified as oxytocinergic, as their stereotyped activation preceded bouts of sucking behaviour of the young indicative of milk ejection. All fourteen cells continued to show intermittent bursts of neurosecretory activity for up to 20 min after nursing terminated. This pattern of discharge followed grooming behaviour of the doe. In contrast, neurones in group 2 (n = 6) showed no high-frequency activity in suckling. They showed a significant fall in their discharge frequency compared with pre-suckling values (P less than 0.05; Student's t test) and a significant (P less than 0.05) lengthening of the modal interspike interval. They were classed as potential vasopressin-producing cells. Control recordings were taken from thirty-two neurones which could not be antidromically driven. The recording sites were shown histologically to be in the lateral hypothalamic area. These cells showed a significant fall in their discharge frequency (P less than 0.05) and a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in the modal interval during suckling. Cross-correlation studies of the activity, recorded from one electrode, of groups of neurones clustered around a single hypothalamic neurone suggest that bursting discharge from the putative oxytocin neurones in suckling is accompanied by the synchronous activation of some of the surrounding magnocellular units.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1988

Lateral hypothalamus and sympathetic firing rate.

Measurements of sympathetic firing rate have been made after the acute microinjection of glucose or insulin into the lateral hypothalamic area as well as after ablation of this area with locally injected gold thioglucose. Injection of glucose into the lateral hypothalamus (LH) produced a small but significant and dose-dependent reduction in the firing rate of efferent sympathetic nerves to interscapular brown adipose tissue. Injection of insulin into the same region produced a very short-lived increase in efferent sympathetic firing rate. Bilateral lesions in the lateral hypothalamus produced by microinjection and gold thioglucose lowered body weight more than sham injections into the LH of control animals. There was an increase in basal sympathetic firing rate at 3, 9, and 24 h after LH lesions. There was also an increase in firing rate at 1 and 3 days, but by 7 days firing rate had returned to control levels. The data support the hypothesis that LH lesions enhance sympathetic activity but show only very limited modulation by glucose or insulin.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

PubMed1982

Some observations on hypothalamo-amygdaloid connections in the monkey.

The projections of the hypothalamus to the amygdala have been studied autoradiographically in a series of eleven cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in which injections of [3H]amino acids had been made in different regions of the caudal two-thirds of the hypothalamus. The most prominent projection arises from the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and terminates most heavily in the medial, magnocellular division of the central nucleus. Injections confined to the ventromedial nucleus also result in labeling of the piriform cortex, the periamygdaloid cortex, the anterior amygdaloid area, the medial amygdaloid nucleus and the parvocellular divisions of both the basal and basal accessory nuclei. All these projections are bilateral (although the contralateral component is much smaller) and show evidence of a rostro-caudal topographic organization. Isotope injections that involve the caudal part of the lateral hypothalamic area label projections to the medial division of the central amygdaloid nucleus, to the medial and cortical nuclei and to the anterior amygdaloid area. When such caudally placed injections also involved the lateral mamillary nucleus, the lateral division of the central amygdaloid nucleus was additionally labeled. Although the medial mamillary nucleus does not project to the amygdala, there is evidence for a minor projection from the supramamillary region to the medial amygdaloid nucleus. The ventral tegmental area appears to project to the lateral division of the central nucleus and the medial portion of the substantia nigra has a small projection to both divisions of the central nucleus. All of these projections reach the amygdala by way of the so-called ventral amygdalofugal pathway, but at least some of the fibers that arise in the ventromedial nucleus run in the stria terminalis.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed1991

Effect of hypothalamic administration of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) on feeding behavior in rats.

To examine the role and working site of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) in feeding behavior, we first tested the effect of the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of GRF on food intake after 24 h of food deprivation. Cumulative food intake was measured 1, 3 and 6 h after injection. A lower dose of GRF stimulated food intake in a dose dependent manner (3 h; GRF 100 pmol 8.64 +/- 1.06 g vs saline 5.50 +/- 0.60 g, P less than 0.05), while a higher dose (1 nmol, 500 pmol) suppressed food intake (3 h; GRF 1 nmol 2.65 +/- 0.70 g vs saline 5.50 +/- 0.60 g, P less than 0.01). Second, the effect of i.c.v. injection of 100 pmol of GRF on peripheral metabolites was examined. The subsequent levels of plasma insulin, glucagon, glucose and non-esterified fatty acid showed no significant difference from those of saline administration. Third, the effect of microinjection of GRF (5 pmol) into several hypothalamic areas on food intake was examined. Injection into the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN) stimulated food intake (3 h; GRF 5 pmol 10.32 +/- 1.04 g vs saline 6.92 +/- 0.32 g, P less than 0.05), but no significant effect was observed following injection either into the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) or medial preoptic area (MPOA). Finally, we tested the stimulatory effect of GRF on food intake in bilateral VMN lesioned rats. I.c.v. injection in these animals had no more significant effect on food intake than did saline injection in VMN lesioned rats (3 h; GRF 100 pmol 6.27 +/- 0.87 g vs saline 5.34 +/- 0.44 g).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Potential strategies for ameliorating early cancer anorexia.

BACKGROUND: Normally the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) interact to regulate food intake (FI), the product of meal number (MN) and meal size (MZ), by changes in neurotransmitters, mainly dopamine and serotonin. Change in LHA dopamine influences meal size; while in VMN, decreasing dopamine and increasing serotonin levels influence meal number. Whether this situation exists in early cancer anorexia was tested in a series of studies to examine the role of the hypothalamus in the pathogenesis of early cancer anorexia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In experiment 1, male Fischer tumor-bearing (TB) rats and weight-matched controls had FI, MN, and MZ measured continuously via a computerized rat eater meter. At onset of anorexia, feeding patterns were measured. In experiment 2, the VMN was temporarily blocked with 0.32 microgram of colchicine in TB rats, while TB controls had an equal volume of intra-VMN saline, and changes in feeding patterns were measured. In experiment 3, changes in VMN dopamine and serotonin were measured via microdialysis at anorexia and after tumor resection. RESULTS: In experiment 1, with the onset of anorexia, food intake decreased significantly in TB rats, initially by a decrease in MN and then by a decrease in both MN and MZ. No change occurred in controls, suggesting that VMN versus LHA played a more significant role in mediation of cancer anorexia. In experiment 2, following VMN block, FI increased significantly in anorectic TB rats, achieved by an almost exclusive increase in MN with minimal change in MZ, thus supporting the role of the VMN in anorexia. In experiment 3, at the onset of anorexia, FI decreased significantly in TB rats versus controls. TB rats had a significant increase in VMN serotonin and a significant decrease in VMN dopamine. After tumor resection, food intake improved and high levels of serotonin normalized with no change in dopamine. CONCLUSION: Serotoninergic and dopaminergic systems are involved in the etiology of cancer anorexia. The changes in food intake are mediated via the VMN by a decrease in meal number.

Animals↗