Effect of anterior and posterior hypothalamic lesions on precocious sexual maturation

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical College, Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic, The New York Hospital, New York City

The comparative effect of anterior and posterior hypothalamic lesions on the development of sexual maturation of prepubertal female rats was investigated. Lesions by electrocoagulation were made in the medial hypothalamus of 45 rats at 25–26 days of age. Thirty-nine animals of the same age constituted the sham-operated and nonoperated controls. A hastened appearance of vaginal opening and first estrus, a significant increase in uterine weight, precocious ovarian luteinization, and premature sexual cycles were observed following both types of lesions. Sham-operated rats and animals with lesions in other parts of the brain did not show evidence of precocious sexual maturation.

Key Words: hypothalamic lesions in rats • sexual maturation of female rats • precocious puberty • precocious gonadal • stimulation

Submitted on July 15, 1963