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Lateral and ventromedial hypothalamic influences on hepatic autonomic nerve activity in the rat
H Yoshimatsu1, A Niijima, Y Oomura
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Abstract:
Effects of hypothalamic stimulation and lesion on hepatic autonomic nerve activity were investigated in anesthetized rats. Stimulation of the lateral hypothalamic area increased activity of the hepatic vagal nerve and decreased activity of the splanchnic nerve. Lesion of this area produced a rapid and strong reduction of vagal nerve activity and induced either an increase or a decrease of splanchnic nerve activity. In contrast, stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus produced a strong inhibition of vagal nerve activity and facilitation of splanchnic nerve activity. However, lesion of this nucleus facilitated or inhibited activities in both nerve branches. The functional significance of the relationship between the hypothalamus and the hepatic autonomic nerve in regulation of glucose metabolism in the liver are discussed.