OBESITY PRODUCED BY IRON AND TISSUE DESTRUCTION IN VENTROMEDIAL HYPOTHALAMUS

In rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions, obesity was observed only when Prussian blue positive substance was deposited in the lesion. This deposit was most probably iron. Iron implants in the ventromedial hypothalamus without a significant lesion in this area, was not effective in producing obesity. The findings are therefore compatible with the assumption of an antagonism between the medial and the lateral hypothalamus in the control of appetitive behavior. It is difficult to completely control for implantation of iron, and findings reported by previous authors have indicated that iron may be deposited even in radio-frequency lesions. © 1969.