Glucose oxidation in the ventromedial hypothalamus is not affected by insulin or ouabain but depressed by alloxan treatment.

Insulin is apparently not required for VMH glucose oxidation in vitro. Ouabain, an inhibitor of the Na-K pump ATPase, does not prevent VMH glucose oxidation in vitro. These data suggest (a) the VMH does not exhibit a cotransport phenomenon of glucose with the Na-K pump mechanism, and (b) glucose oxidation in the VMH is not insulin dependent. Alloxan-diabetes was induced to increase tissue insulin sensitivity. A comparison of glucose oxidation rates in alloxan-diabetic VMH tissue and normal VMH tissue, supplemented only with saline, indicated a highly significant (p < 0.001) depression of glucose oxidation in the alloxan-treated tissue. Cell membranes in the VMH are perhaps altered by alloxan.