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Strategies for Study of Neuroprotection from Cold-preconditioning
Published on: September 2, 2010
Central efferent pathways for cold-defensive and febrile shivering
Kazuhiro Nakamura1, Shaun F Morrison
1Career-Path Promotion Unit for Young Life Scientists, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. kazu@cp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
The Journal of Physiology
|May 26, 2011
Summary
Brain circuits controlling shivering and sympathetic responses for thermogenesis were identified in rats. These pathways, involving the median preoptic nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamus, and rostral raphe pallidus nucleus, are crucial for cold defense and fever responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- Shivering is a key somatomotor thermogenic response regulated by central brain mechanisms.
- Understanding the neural circuitry of thermoregulation is crucial for addressing metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the central neural circuitry controlling shivering and sympathetic thermogenesis in response to cold and pyrogenic stimulation.
- To identify specific brain regions and pathways involved in the efferent control of thermoregulatory responses.
Main Methods:
- Electromyography (EMG) recordings in anesthetized rats.
- Monitoring of brown adipose tissue (BAT) temperature, arterial pressure, and heart rate.
- Inhibition and stimulation of specific brain nuclei (MnPO, DMH, rRPa) using muscimol, 8-OH-DPAT, and prostaglandin E2.
Main Results:
- Acute skin cooling increased EMG, BAT temperature, and heart rate; these responses were abolished by median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) inhibition.
- Stimulation of the MnPO induced shivering, BAT thermogenesis, and tachycardia, reversed by medial preoptic area (MPO) GABA(A) receptor antagonism.
- Dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) or rostral raphe pallidus nucleus (rRPa) inhibition, or rRPa 5-HT1A receptor activation, eliminated shivering and sympathetic responses to cold or pyrogenic stimulation.
Conclusions:
- A schematic model illustrates descending excitatory signaling through DMH and rRPa for shivering and sympathetic responses, under tonic inhibitory control from the preoptic area.
- Parallel central efferent pathways control somatic and sympathetic motor systems for thermogenesis during increased heat production demands.
- These findings offer insights into the coordinated control of thermoregulatory systems.
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