Summary
Mean firing rates (per 10 sec) of preoptic neurons of the rat were recorded at normal temperature and after central warming and cooling. Thermosensitivity was determined according to the reactions of the mean firing rate. In compatibility with results from other animals we obtained the following percentages (52 neurons): 23% warm-sensitive, 13% cold-sensitive, 64% non-thermosensitive neurons.
However, it turned out that a lot of interesting special effects are not taken into account, using exclusively the criterion “increasing/decreasing/constant mean firing rate”. Particularly we observed long lasting adaption processes and stationary non-linear effects as well as striking oscillations which were dependent on the thermal stimuli, while the mean interval value remained constant.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beckman, A.L., Eisenman, J.S.: Microelectrophoresis of biogenic amines on hypothalamic thermosensitive cells. Science 170, 334–336 (1970)
Eisenman, J.S.: Unit activity studies of thermoresponsive neurons. In: Essays on Temperature Regulation. Ed. by J. Bligh and R.E. Moore. Amsterdam-London: North-Holland Publishing Company 1972
Eisenman, J.S., Jackson, D.C.: Thermal response patterns of septic and preoptic neurons in cats. Exp. Neurol. 19, 33–45 (1967)
de Groot, J.: The rat forebrain in stereotaxic coordinates. In: Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, AFD. Natuurkunde. Tweede Reeks, Deel LII No. 4. N.V. Noord-Hollandsche Uitgevers. Maatschappij Amsterdam 1967
Hardy, J.D., Hellon, R.F., Sutherland, K.: Temperature-sensitive neurons in the dog's hypothalamus. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 175, 242–253 (1964)
Hensel, H., Zotterman, Y.: Quantitative Beziehungen zwischen der Entladung einzelner Kältefasern und der Temperatur. Acta physiol. scand. 23, 291–319 (1951)
Iggo, A., Iggo, B.J.: Impulse coding in primate cutaneous thermoreceptors in dynamic thermal conditions. J. Physiol. (Paris) 63, 287–290 (1971)
Nakayama, T., Hardy, J.D.: Unit responses in the rabhit's brain stem to changes in brain and cutaneous temperature. J. appl. Physiol. 27, 848–857 (1969)
Segundo, J.P., Moore, G.P.: Functional significance of neuronal spike discharge parameters. Bol. Inst. Estud. méd. biol. (Méx.) 21, 371–373 (1963)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jahns, R., Werner, J. Special aspects of firing rates and thermosensitivity of preoptic neurons. Exp Brain Res 21, 107–112 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234261
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234261