Influence of ovarian hormones on the recovery period following hypothalamic lesions.

The effects of ovariectomy and its interaction with body weight on the recovery period following lateral hypothalamic lesions were examined. The results of the experiments indicated that body weight set point prior to lesioning, liable to be influenced by hormonal and metabolic factors, is a more important variable in modifying the recovery process after lateral hypothalamic lesions than is absolute body weight, while absolute body weight determines the amount of weight loss that follows lesions of the lateral hypothalamus.