en Physiology Physiology Original Research: Basic Science in Medicine Original Research: Basic Science in Medicine The role of the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus (VMN) in food behavior was studied in adult male rats, allocated in 3 groups: control, sham and lesioned. Electrolytic lesions were induced stereotaxically (1.2 mA, 15 sec). Results revealed a significant decrease (p<O.05) in body weight (BW) and food intake (FI) in the order of lesioned <sham <control during the fIrst week. However, there were no significant differences in BW and FI between groups in the second week after lesion induction. In the lesioned group, the fInikiness syndrome was observed in the second week after lesioning. It was postulated that VMN lesions produce the finikiness syndrome, and this in turn can cause hyperphagia and hypothalamic obesity. Water intake (WI) was significantly lower in the lesioned group in the first and second week after VMN lesion induction. It could be postulated that disturbances in the regulation of WI is part of the VMN lesion syndrome. VMN lesion, food intake, water intake, finikiness. 127 131 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-376&slc_lang=en&sid=1 GD NAYERI KAMAN 20031947532846005178 20031947532846005178 Yes From the Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, and the *Department of Physiology, Tarbiat Modarress University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. M TAHERIAN FARD 20031947532846005179 20031947532846005179 No