Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Membrane Potential Dye Imaging of Ventromedial Hypothalamus Neurons From Adult Mice to Study Glucose Sensing
Published on: November 27, 2013
Role of preoptic and anterior hypothalamic cholinergic input on water intake and body temperature
A Takahashi1, E Kishi, H Ishimaru
1Department of Neuropsychopharmacology (Tsumura), Gunma University School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, 371-8511, Gunma, Japan. atakahas@med.gunma-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
To elucidate the role played by cholinergic mechanism in the preoptic area (POA) and anterior hypothalamus (AH) in the control of body temperature and water intake of rats, we used microdialysis without disturbing the behavior of unanesthetized animals. After microdialysis, we also investigated immunoreactivity for c-Fos protein in the hypothalamus. Stimulation with neostigmine, an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, through microdialysis probe increased extracellular concentration of acetylcholine (ACh) in the POA and AH, and was accompanied by a dose-dependent fall in body temperature and increased water intake. Addition of atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, to the dialysis medium containing neostigmine suppressed the neostigmine-induced changes in rectal temperature and water intake. Neostignime markedly increased c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) in certain hypothalamic areas, including the paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus and median preoptic nucleus. This increase was also attenuated by atropine. These results suggest that cholinergic inputs and activation of muscarinic processes in POA and AH induced a decline in body temperature and increased water intake.
More Related Videos
08:32Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain
Published on: January 4, 2018
09:29Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation
Published on: August 4, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Body Temperature
Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
Body Temperature
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F), remaining relatively stable...
Regulation of Food Intake
Regulation of Water Intake
Primary Motives: Hunger and Thirst
Hunger arises when the brain detects changes in the body's nutrient levels, including glucose, lipids, amino acids, and hormones such as ghrelin and leptin. The hypothalamus plays a central role in hunger regulation. The lateral hypothalamus acts...