Intestinal Absorption of Glucose in Hypothalamic Obesity

Abstract
Electrocoagulation of certain hypothalamic areas in rats resulted in hypothalamic obesity (HO). Intestinal absorption rates for glucose were detd. GCA (glucose coeff. of absorption = mg. glucose absorbed/l00g./hr.) values were: control-114.0, HO-107.4; HO thyroxine-treated-173.5, control thyroxine-treated-191.6, thyroidectomized-75.2. Marked obesity occurred in some cases without excessive wt. gain. Apparently hypothalamic lesions resulting in obesity neither elevate intestinal absorption rate for glucose nor impair the thyroxine-induced increase of this function. They may impair the secretion of growth hormone.