A direct action of insulin on the hypothalamic satiety center.

DEBONS, ALBERT F., ISIDORE KRIMSKY, AND ANNETTE FROM. A direct action of insulin on the hyfiothalamic satiety center. Am. J. Physiol. 219(4) : 938-943. 1970.-Diabetic mice, unlike normal mice, do not develop necrosis of the hypothalamic satiety center after administration of gold thioglucose. In previous studies, the rapid action of intravenously administered insulin in restoring the sensitivity of the satiety center of diabetic mice to gold thioglucose suggested that insulin might act directly on the satiety center. In the present studies, the effect of intrahypothalamic injection of insulin on the restoration of the sensitivity of the center to gold thioglucose necrosis was investigated in diabetic mice. Intrahypothalamic injection of insulin restored the sensitivity of the c center. Insulin given by this route does not act by entering the circulatory system, since the effect was obtained in the presence of anti-insulin serum which prevented circulating insulin from acting. It is concluded that insulin can act directly on cells of the satiety center, An important physiological role of insulin in regulation of the satiety center in its control of feeding behavior is indicated.