[Neurogenic control of oxidative metabolism in the liver]

In acute experiments on dogs, stimulation of the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus induced changes of hepatic circulation and increased the rate of O2 consumption by the liver. In stimulation of supraoptic and lateral hypothalamic nuclei the hepatic O2 consumption changed insignificantly. The hypothalamic effects on the liver tissue respiration was blocked by obsidan (propranolol) but not by atropine. A correlation exists between shifts of the O2 consumption rate and those of temperature in the liver. The data suggest that hypothalamus can modify the liver oxidative metabolism through the sympathetic nervous system and beta-adrenergic receptors of the hepatocytes and redistribute the energy of this metabolism between processes of thermogenesis and endothermic reactions in the liver.