Examined the effects of ovariectomy and its interaction with body weight on the recovery period following lateral hypothalamic lesions. Results in 18 ovariectomized and 24 control female Charles River rats indicate that but set point prior to lesioning, liable to be influenced by hormonal and metabolic factors, was a more important variable in modifying the recovery process after lateral hypothalamic lesions than was absolute body weight, while absolute body weight determined the amount of weight loss that followed lesions of the lateral hypothalamus. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)