Vascular responses in canine subcutaneous adipose tissue to hypothalamic stimulation

The present studies investigated vascular responses to electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus in isolated but perfused and innervated subcutaneous adipose tissue in adult dogs. Three groups of dogs were distinguished: in one, electrical stimulation elicited vasodilation; in another, vasoconstriction, and in a third, neither significant vasodilation nor vasoconstriction occurred. Histological examination revealed that electrode placements were in the medial posterior hypothalamus, the lateral posterior hypothalamus, and the medial septal region, respectively. Hypothalamic stimulation failed to alter concentrations of free fatty acids or glycerol in venous blood from subcutaneous fat. Local beta-adrenergic block (propranolol) reversed the vasodilation to vasoconstriction while local alpha-adrenergic block (dihydroergotamine) abolished the vaso constrictor response. These results suggest that selective stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus results in neurogenic activation of both alpha- and beta-adrenergic mechanisms in adipose tissue vasculature. beta-Adrenergic vasodilation appears to predominate if the electrode is located medially, and alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction appears to predominate if the electrode is located in the lateral posterior hypothalamus.