Abstract
The preoptic area (POA) occupies a crucial position among the structures participating in thermoregulation, but we know little about its efferent projections for controlling various effector responses. In this study, we used an immunohistochemical analysis of Fos expression during local warming of the preoptic area. To avoid the effects of anesthesia or stress, which are known to elicit Fos induction in various brain regions, we used a novel thermode specifically designed for chronic warming of discrete brain structures in freely moving rats. At an ambient temperature of 22°C, local POA warming increased Fos immunoreactivity in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG). Exposure of animals to an ambient temperature of 5°C induced Fos immunoreactivity in the magnocellular paraventricular nucleus (mPVN) and the dorsomedial region of the hypothalamus (DMH). Concurrent warming of the POA suppressed Fos expression in these areas. These findings suggest that thermal information from the preoptic area sends excitatory signals to the SON and the PAG, and inhibitory signals to the mPVN and the DMH.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 109-117 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Brain Research |
Volume | 933 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 19 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Dorsomedial nucleus
- Magnocellular paraventricular nucleus
- Periaqueductal gray matter
- Preoptic area
- Supraoptic nucleus
- Thermoregulation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Neurology
- Developmental Biology