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Cellular and Synaptic Mechanisms of Thermosensitivity in Hypothalamic Neurons

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Thermal Balance in Health and Disease

Part of the book series: APS Advances in Pharmacological Sciences ((APS))

Abstract

The preoptic-anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH) and nearby circumventricular and septal regions are known to have important roles in thermoregulation (reviewed in 1–3). Thermode studies show that PO/AH warming evokes heat loss responses, while PO/AH cooling evokes heat retention and heat production responses. Thermoregulatory responses are elicited also after various neuroactive substances are microinjected into these areas. When pyrogens or drugs alter body temperature, it is often presumed that these substances are acting on the neurons in and near the rostral hypothalamus. The purpose of this paper is to review basic characteristics of the cells that form this hypothalamic network. These cellular properties and synaptic connections should provide clues to understanding mechanisms by which drugs and pyrogens affect neuronal activity to alter thermoregulatory responses.

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References

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© 1994 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel

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Boulant, J.A. (1994). Cellular and Synaptic Mechanisms of Thermosensitivity in Hypothalamic Neurons. In: Zeisberger, E., Schönbaum, E., Lomax, P. (eds) Thermal Balance in Health and Disease. APS Advances in Pharmacological Sciences. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7429-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7429-8_3

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-7431-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-7429-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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