Biomaterial Database

Effects of gonadectomy on hypothalamic obesity in male and female rats. 1977

J W Kemnitz, and R W Goy, and R E Keesey

The effects of ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions on body weight, body composition, and food intake were examined in gonadally intact and gonadectomized adult rats of both sexes. The most striking finding was that, while gonadectomy only modestly augmented the weight gain following VMH lesions in females, castrated VMH males gained twice as much weight as gonadally intact VMH males. Furthermore, the weight gain of the castrated VMH males was comparable to that seen in VMH females. Thus, castration of males eliminates the sex difference in body weight gain that is ordinarily observed in gonadally intact animals following VMH lesions. The degree of weight gain in all VMH animals correlated highly with the amount of food eaten, and additional body weight of all VMH animals was accounted for by increased body fat.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007033	Hypothalamus, Middle	Middle portion of the hypothalamus containing the arcuate, dorsomedial, ventromedial nuclei, the TUBER CINEREUM and the PITUITARY GLAND.	Hypothalamus, Medial,Intermediate Hypothalamic Region,Hypothalamic Region, Intermediate,Hypothalamic Regions, Intermediate,Intermediate Hypothalamic Regions,Medial Hypothalamus,Middle Hypothalamus,Region, Intermediate Hypothalamic,Regions, Intermediate Hypothalamic
D008297	Male		Males
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009765	Obesity	A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D001823	Body Composition	The relative amounts of various components in the body, such as percentage of body fat.	Body Compositions,Composition, Body,Compositions, Body
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002369	Castration	Surgical removal or artificial destruction of gonads.	Gonadectomy,Castrations,Gonadectomies
D005247	Feeding Behavior	Behavioral responses or sequences associated with eating including modes of feeding, rhythmic patterns of eating, and time intervals.	Dietary Habits,Eating Behavior,Faith-based Dietary Restrictions,Feeding Patterns,Feeding-Related Behavior,Food Habits,Diet Habits,Eating Habits,Behavior, Eating,Behavior, Feeding,Behavior, Feeding-Related,Behaviors, Eating,Behaviors, Feeding,Behaviors, Feeding-Related,Diet Habit,Dietary Habit,Dietary Restriction, Faith-based,Dietary Restrictions, Faith-based,Eating Behaviors,Eating Habit,Faith based Dietary Restrictions,Faith-based Dietary Restriction,Feeding Behaviors,Feeding Pattern,Feeding Related Behavior,Feeding-Related Behaviors,Food Habit,Habit, Diet,Habit, Dietary,Habit, Eating,Habit, Food,Habits, Diet,Pattern, Feeding,Patterns, Feeding,Restrictions, Faith-based Dietary
D005260	Female		Females
D000273	Adipose Tissue	Specialized connective tissue composed of fat cells (ADIPOCYTES). It is the site of stored FATS, usually in the form of TRIGLYCERIDES. In mammals, there are two types of adipose tissue, the WHITE FAT and the BROWN FAT. Their relative distributions vary in different species with most adipose tissue being white.	Fatty Tissue,Body Fat,Fat Pad,Fat Pads,Pad, Fat,Pads, Fat,Tissue, Adipose,Tissue, Fatty