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Related Concept Videos

Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination01:23

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The hypothalamus is a small yet highly complex and essential brain region that plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. Anatomically, it is located at the base of the brain, just above the brainstem and below the thalamus, forming part of the limbic system.
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...
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The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
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Body temperature reflects the equilibrium between heat production and heat loss within the body. Most heat is generated by metabolically active tissues, particularly the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and endocrine organs. At rest, skeletal muscles contribute 20–30% of total heat production, but during vigorous exercise, this can increase up to 30–40 times.
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Thermoregulation01:26

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The human body has a sophisticated thermoregulation system that employs negative feedback mechanisms to maintain an optimal core temperature. When the core temperature drops, peripheral and central thermoreceptors send signals to the hypothalamus, activating the heat-promoting center. This center triggers several responses aimed at increasing the core temperature. First, vasoconstriction reduces the flow of warm blood from internal organs to the skin so that the heat is not lost from the skin,...
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Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...
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The diencephalon, etymologically translated as 'through brain,' plays an integral role as the conduit between the cerebrum and the vast extent of the nervous system. However, the olfactory system is an exception, as it interfaces directly with the cerebrum. The diencephalon, deeply ensconced beneath the cerebrum, primarily consists of three paired structures — the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithelamus. It also includes accessory structures such as the subthalamus, which houses the...
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Author Spotlight: Hypothalamic Neural Mechanism Insights
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A hypothalamic circuit that controls body temperature.

Zheng-Dong Zhao1,2,3, Wen Z Yang1,2,3, Cuicui Gao1,2,3

  • 1School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|January 6, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Researchers identified a neural pathway in the hypothalamus that controls body temperature. This pathway involves ventral lateral preoptic nucleus (vLPO) GABAergic neurons inhibiting dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMD) neurons to lower body temperature during thermal challenges.

Keywords:
dorsomedial hypothalamusenergy expenditurefiber photometrypreoptic areathermoregulation

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Thermoregulation

Background:

  • Mammalian body temperature is vital for survival.
  • The hypothalamus regulates temperature via specific neurons.
  • Neural pathways for thermoregulation remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the specific neural pathways and neuronal populations involved in thermoregulation.
  • To identify how temperature-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus control body temperature.
  • To investigate the role of vLPO and DMD in thermal homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized cFos staining to identify activated neurons during thermal challenges.
  • Employed optogenetics to manipulate neuronal activity in the vLPO and DMD.
  • Conducted electrophysiological recordings and fiber photometry for calcium imaging.
  • Used designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) for targeted activation.

Main Results:

  • Identified vLPO and DMD as key hypothalamic regions in thermoregulation.
  • Demonstrated that activating vLPO GABAergic neurons reduces body temperature and activity.
  • Showed that inhibiting vLPO GABAergic neurons leads to hyperthermia.
  • Found that vLPO GABAergic neurons suppress thermogenic DMD neurons.
  • Revealed that activating DMD neurons increases body temperature, energy expenditure, and activity.

Conclusions:

  • Identified a novel vLPO→DMD neural pathway crucial for reducing core body temperature during thermal challenges.
  • Established that outputs from the DMD play a role in inducing activity-induced thermogenesis.
  • Highlighted the reciprocal regulation of thermogenesis by vLPO and DMD neuronal circuits.