Unimpaired quinine metabolism in rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions.

Rats with lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) show a greater decrease in food intake than normal rats if fed diets adulterated with quinine. To determine if this hyperresponsivity is due to impaired quinine metabolism, in vitro rates of drug metabolism of female hooded rats with VMH lesions were measured. Determinations were made both under basal conditions and under conditions known to cause induction of drug metabolizing enzymes. VMH rats showed rates of drug metabolism virtually identical to controls under all conditions tested. These data suggest that VMH lesioned rats are not more sensitive to quinine dietary adulteration because of impaired quinine metabolism.