OBESITY AND DIABETES MELLITUS IN A RAT WITH HYPOTHALAMIC LESIONS

Abstract
Spontaneous diabetes mellitus was observed in a rat after injury to the ventromedial hypothalamus. At the time the diabetes was discovered, the animal was extremely obese. Fasting blood glucose was approximately 200 mg/100 ml, daily urinary glucose varied from 12 to 18 g, urinary volume from 280 to 370 ml. The islets of the pancreas showed no pathological changes. The adrenals weighed 108 mg vs. 58 mg control weight. Extensive infected skin lesions were present. The literature concerning diabetes after experimental hypothalamic injury is briefly reviewed.