Endocrinology, Vol 105, 146-151, Copyright © 1979 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Acute hyperinsulinemia and its reversal by vagotomy after lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus in anesthetized rats

HR Berthoud and B Jeanrenaud

The acute effect of bilateral electrolytic ventromedial hypothalamic lesions (20-25-m Coulomb stainless steel electrodes) on plasma levels of insulin and glucose was studied in anesthetized rats to determine early effects that would occur before hyperphagia and obesity. In rats fed ad libitum, lesions in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) but not in the cortex produced a marked increase in circulating insulin levels (starting at 20 min postlesion) and a small increase in glycemia which, however, was not significant and could therefore not be the cause of increased insulin secretion. Hyperinsulinemia after VMH lesions was more pronounced when glucose was infused iv at a rate of 7-8 mg/kg . min. Bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, performed 50 min after VMH lesions, immediately and completely reversed the observed hyperinsulinemia. With the exception of a tendency of lesions producing the highest degree of hyperinsulinemia to be slightly larger than the lesions not producing any hyperinsulinemia, no statement about the critical involvement of a specific hypothalamic locus can be made. It is concluded that electrolytic VMH destruction causes immediate hypersecretion of the pancreatic B cell, an effect that requires the integrity of the vagus nerves. Further localization of the central circuitry responsible for this mechanism, however, will require more specific methods than electrolytic lesions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Wang, E. Bomberg, A. Levine, C. Billington, and C. M. Kotz Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus reduces energy intake Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): R1037 - R1045. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Morgan, S. Obici, and L. Rossetti Hypothalamic Responses to Long-chain Fatty Acids Are Nutritionally Regulated J. Biol. Chem., July 23, 2004; 279(30): 31139 - 31148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. V. de Courten, C. Weyer, N. Stefan, M. Horton, A. DelParigi, P. Havel, C. Bogardus, and P. A. Tataranni Parasympathetic Blockade Attenuates Augmented Pancreatic Polypeptide But Not Insulin Secretion in Pima Indians Diabetes, March 1, 2004; 53(3): 663 - 671. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. H. Lustig, P. S. Hinds, K. Ringwald-Smith, R. K. Christensen, S. C. Kaste, R. E. Schreiber, S. N. Rai, S. Y. Lensing, S. Wu, and X. Xiong Octreotide Therapy of Pediatric Hypothalamic Obesity: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2003; 88(6): 2586 - 2592. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Campfield and F. J. Smith Blood Glucose Dynamics and Control of Meal Initiation: A Pattern Detection and Recognition Theory Physiol Rev, January 1, 2003; 83(1): 25 - 58. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kooptiwut, S. Zraika, A. W. Thorburn, M. E. Dunlop, R. Darwiche, T. W. Kay, J. Proietto, and S. Andrikopoulos Comparison of Insulin Secretory Function in Two Mouse Models with Different Susceptibility to {beta}-Cell Failure Endocrinology, June 1, 2002; 143(6): 2085 - 2092. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Gilon and J.-C. Henquin Mechanisms and Physiological Significance of the Cholinergic Control of Pancreatic {beta}-Cell Function Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2001; 22(5): 565 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Pacak and M. Palkovits Stressor Specificity of Central Neuroendocrine Responses: Implications for Stress-Related Disorders Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2001; 22(4): 502 - 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Satoh, Y. Ogawa, G. Katsuura, T. Tsuji, H. Masuzaki, J. Hiraoka, T. Okazaki, M. Tamaki, M. Hayase, Y. Yoshimasa, et al. Pathophysiological Significance of the Obese Gene Product, Leptin, in Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH)-Lesioned Rats: Evidence for Loss of Its Satiety Effect in VMH-Lesioned Rats Endocrinology, March 1, 1997; 138(3): 947 - 954. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Duggan and D. Booth Obesity, overeating, and rapid gastric emptying in rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions Science, February 7, 1986; 231(4738): 609 - 611. [Abstract] [PDF]