Development of hormonal control over food intake... : Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology (original) (raw)

Development of hormonal control over food intake and body weight in female rats

Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology

70

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2,

)

:p

213

-

220

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February 1970

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Found ovariectomy on the day of birth or at weaning to have no effect on body weight until after puberty when spayed females weighed significantly more than intact controls. Treatment with estradiol benzoate (EB) did not decrease food intake or body weight until Ss were approximately 40 days old. Onset of responsiveness to estrogens was independent of puberty. Hypophysectomy greatly increased responsiveness to EB among prepubertal Ss. It is suggested that prepubertal pituitary secretions eliminate ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) restraint over food intake; since estrogens act on the VMH to depress eating, this accounts for the lack of effect of food consumption during prepubertal periods when estrogens were ineffective; it is suggested that amphetamine acts directly on the laternal hypothalamus which is not refractory during the prepubertal period. (30 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)