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Nutritional Studies in the Weanling Rat with Normophagic Hypothalamic Obesity^1,2,

Lee L. Bernardis^*,,, Rafael Luboshitsky^*,,, Larry L. Bellinger and Geraldine McEwen^*

^* The Veterans Administration Medical Center the Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14215 the Department of Physiology, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246

Weanling male hypothalamic-obese Sprague-Dawley rats (VMNL) and sham-operated controls (CON) fed stock diet for 2 weeks postoperatively ate similar amounts, but VMNL laid down more fat and less body weight per calories. Three equicaloric diets of different macronutrient (MN) content each were fed for 21 days. Diet selection: VMNL selected more carbohydrate (CHO) diet and protein diet but similar amounts of fat diet; total caloric intake was comparable. Percent diet selection showed the identcal pattern. MN intake: VMNL ingested more CHO and fat but similar amounts of protein as CON. Percent MN intake: VMNL ingested more precent CHO, less percent protein and similar percent fat as CON. Refeeding after 2-day fast: both groups selected similar amounts of diets, but VMNL ingested less protein. High protein diet alone (9 days): both groups increased caloric intake over previous regimens, weight gain and caloric intake were similar, but Lee Index was higher in VMNL. Stock diet (32 days): VMNL showed normal body weight gains but higher Lee Index despite hypophagia. They utilized calories similarly for body weight gains but more poorly for fat deposition than CON. After death several key plasma substrates were similar in both groups but epididymal fat pads were heavier in VMNL.

KEY WORDS: • ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus • normophagia • obesity • diet self-selection • fast • refeeding • high protein diet • efficiency of food utilization • white adipose tissue • plasma substrates

¹ This investigation was supported by NSF Grant PCM76-84381 and VA Medical Research Funds granted to Lee L. Bernardis.

² Correspondence should be sent to L. L. Bernardis, Veterans Administration Medical Center, 3495 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215.

Manuscript received 8 October 1981.