Area postrema mediates tumor effects on food intake, body weight, and learned aversions.

Growth of a Leydig cell [LTW (m)] tumor in rats is associated with the development of significant hypophagia and severe aversions to the available diet. Lesions of the area postrema and nearby caudal medial area of the solitary tract were found to block or greatly attenuate the anorexia and food aversions that typically accompany the growth of this tumor. Thus these tumor-induced symptoms may be associated with the detection of blood-borne chemicals by cells located in or near the area postrema.