A study of action of norepinephrine on hypothalamic feeding centres

Effects of intrahypothalamic and intraventricular microinjections of norepinephrine (NE) were studied in fasted albino rats. Applications of NE into ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), medial part of lateral hypothalamus (LH) and lateral ventricle (LV) caused marked but short lasting decrease in food intake, whereas lateral part of LH was insensitive to NE administration. Decrease in water intake seemed secondary to decrease in food intake. Decrease in food intake could not be attributed to the alteration of body temperature. This study explains the mechanism of anorexigenic action of amphetamine and the mechanism of hyperphagia following destruction of the ventral noradrenergic bundle.