J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1975 Oct;4(2):169-174.

Histopathological Changes of the Appetite Center of the Hypothalamus in Gold-thioglucose-injected Mice

• Chung HY

Abstract

Two hypothalamic centers are involved in the regulation of food intake;these are the posterior part of the lateral hypothalamic area(feeding center) and the medial part of the hypothalamus, mainly the ventromedial nucleus(satiety center). Recent studies showed that administration of gold-thioglucose led to the development of hyperphagis and obesity in mice, and these resulted from the histological damage to the satiety center. This study was performed to confirm the findings of the previous works and to make reference material for the further study to reveal whether or not similar tissue changes occur after administration of some Korean tonics. Materials and Methods:A total of 66 albino mice of both sexes were used;12 out of 55 were fed as contrast group, 54 were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of gold-thioglucose varing from 600 to 800mg/kg. All the mice were fed for 8 weeks until sacrificed. Results:26 out of the 54 injected group were survived after the injection until 8 weeks later, and 8 out of the 26 survivals developed hyperphagia and obesity ranging 1.5-2 folds increase in the body weight. Autopsy findings of the obese group demonstrated big body shape and the excess subcutaneous and intraperitoneal fat. Microscopically, there was an obvious decrease in the number of cells and the ventromedial nucleus was hardly made out as a discrete nuclear mass, meaning destruction of the satiety center. It is evident that the obesity in the gold-thiolucose-injected group in comparison with the contrast was resulted from gold-thioglucose damage to the satiety center.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Appetite*
Autopsy
Body Weight
Hyperphagia
Hypothalamus*
Injections, Intraperitoneal
Mice*
Obesity