AN UNEXPECTED ROLE OF THE CEREBELLUM - INVOLVEMENT IN NUTRITIONAL ORGANIZATION

The influence of cerebellectomy in nutritional function was studied in the rat. Feeding behavior and analyses of lipids, proteins, nitrogen, and catecholamines in fecal and urinary excreta and in plasma were st udied in 20 cerebellectomized, 20 sham operated, and 20 control animal s. The results demonstrate that feeding behavior (quantitative rates o f daily absorbed food, body weight, and the choice of the nutriment fo rm) was lower in cerebellectomized animals compared to sham operated a nd control animals. Rates of steatorrhea and urinary levels of vanylma ndelic acid, homovanillic acid, and metanephrine were higher in cerebe llectomized animals while plasmat levels of proteins, fatty acids, and glycerol were lower. Thus, the cerebellum is involved in nutritional regulation in the rodent.