AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 263, Issue 3 670-R678, Copyright © 1992 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Regional interactions between thermosensitive neurons in diencephalic slices

J. B. Dean, M. L. Kaple and J. A. Boulant
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.

Rat brain slices were used to investigate regional interactions between thermosensitive neurons in different diencephalic regions. Horizontal tissue slices rested over three thermodes. This permitted independent thermal stimulation of rostral, middle, and caudal regions. Thermocouples measured tissue temperatures in these three locations, and extracellular recordings measured neuronal responses to temperature changes both locally (at the site of the recorded neuron) and in remote regions of the slice. Many of the neurons that were sensitive to remote temperatures were located near the lateral border of the diencephalic nuclei, especially in the perifornical area. All neurons displaying remote thermosensitivity also displayed local thermosensitivity. These neurons usually showed opposite responses to remote and local temperatures; i.e., most of these neurons were locally warm sensitive but showed cold sensitivity to remote temperatures. These findings indicate that thermosensitive synaptic networks extend throughout the diencephalon and may explain the effect of temperature on a variety of homeostatic systems.

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