Author Question: Explain why it is believed that the lateral hypothalamus (LH) plays a key role in the control of ... (Read 25 times)

kfurse · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

Explain why it is believed that the lateral hypothalamus (LH) plays a key role in the control of eating.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Explain why metabolic efficiency is a key factor in obesity.

What will be an ideal response?

lkoler · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Ablation of the LH produces aphagia and adipsia, which reflects cell damage rather than damage to axons of passage. Electrical stimulation of the LH elicits eating. Cells within the LH secrete MCH as well as orexin, two neuropeptides that induce eating.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Animals vary in their capacity to store ingested energy as fat. Some animals are very efficient in that ingested energy can be stored as fat for later use, e.g., during a famine. Other animals are less efficient and waste some portion of ingested energy (e.g., thermogenesis or activity); these animals are less likely to develop obesity in times of abundant food.