Central control of body temperature. A review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Thermoregulation

Background:

• Body temperature control is managed by the central nervous system (CNS) at multiple levels, from the spinal cord to the brain.
• Muscular shivering, a heat-generating response, is initiated when the spinal cord temperature decreases.
• Thermoregulation is hierarchically organized, culminating in the hypothalamus (preoptic region), and integrated with autonomic functions like feeding, osmoregulation, and hormone secretion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and update understanding of the neuronal mechanisms underlying thermoregulation.
• To highlight the limitations of previous neuronal models for temperature regulation pathways.
• To introduce the concept of multi-transmitter signaling in central nervous system neurons involved in thermoregulation.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental studies on thermoregulation and CNS control.
• Analysis of existing neuronal models for heat gain and loss pathways.
• Examination of neurotransmitter signaling in central neurons.

Main Results:

• Spinal cord cooling is a key stimulus for heat-generating shivering.
• Thermoregulatory control is integrated in the hypothalamus and linked to other autonomic functions.
• Previous neuronal models are obsolete due to the discovery that CNS neurons utilize multiple neurotransmitters (5-6) rather than a single substance.

Conclusions:

• Thermoregulation is a complex CNS process involving hierarchical control and integration with other bodily functions.
• The understanding of neuronal communication in thermoregulation has evolved significantly.
• Central nervous system neurons employ sophisticated multi-transmitter signaling, necessitating updated models for temperature regulation research.