AMYGDALOID LESION-INDUCED OBESITY IN RATS IN ABSENCE OF FINICKINESS

Female rats with lesions of the most posterodorsal aspects of the amyg dala were tested for their reaction to a variety of manipulations of t heir food and water supply. Compared to control animals, the rats with lesions were hyperphagic and displayed excess weight gain. However, t hey did not consume more of a high-fat diet or of a sucrose solution t han did controls, nor did they consume less than controls when their f ood or water supply was adulterated with quinine or when switched from pellets to ground chow. On a fine-powder diet, control animals lost w eight whereas rats with lesions gained weight. Rats with lesions consu med more saline than controls in a two-bottle preference test. These r esults are consistent with those of earlier studies of other species w ith amygdaloid damage. It is concluded that rats with lesions of the p osterodorsal amygdala are hyperphagic in absence of the marked finicki ness that characterizes some other brain lesion-induced obesity syndro mes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.