Diabetes-Induced Resistance of Ventromedial Hypothalamus to Damage by Gold Thioglucose: Reversal by Adrenalectomy

Abstract

Diabetes has been shown to cause resistance of the ventromedial hypothalamus (satiety center) to gold thioglucose-induced necrosis. In studies reported here, it is shown that adrenalectomy, which ameliorates diabetes, also restores the sensitivity of the satiety center to gold thioglucose in diabetic mice. In addition, adrenalectomy prevents the development of hyperphagia, a condition which occurs regularly in diabetic mice. The sensitivity of the satiety center of the diabeticadrenalectomized mouse to gold thioglucose was abolished by administration of cortisone. These findings indicate that the sensitivity of cells in the ventromedial hypothalamus to gold thioglucose varies with the levels of hormones involved in carbohydrate metabolism. (Endocrinology95: 1636, 1974)