WEIGHT LOSS IN OBESE-HYPERGLYCAEMIC AND NORMAL MICE FOLLOWING TRANSAURICULAR HYPOPHYSECTOMY BY A MODIFIED TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Hypophysectomy was performed by a modified transauricular procedure in normal (N. M. R. I.-strain), obese-hyperglycaemic mice and their lean litter mates. In order to obtain a high percentage of operation success the dimensions of the cannula were carefully adapted to the cranium sizes of the mice of both strains and the cannula fitted with a stop-disc. Abrupt post-operative growth arrest was shown to be a rapid in vivo indicator of the completeness of the operation. In obese-hyperglycaemic mice hypophysectomy caused a rapid decrease of the body weights by disappearance of large amounts of fat. Fourteen days after the operation successfully hypophysectomized obese mice became apparently normal. It is suggested that the pituitary plays a role in the maintenance of the syndrome.