Relative 2-deoxyglucose uptake of the paratrigeminal nucleus increases during hibernation

The paratrigeminal nucleus, a little-studied cell group of the medulla, is the only structure of the brain to significantly increase its relative [14C]2-deoxyglucose accumulation during hibernation in the ground squirrel. The zone of increased activity on the auto-radiographs is continuous between this structure and the marginal zone of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. Because of the known thermoafferent function of the latter structure, a similar function is suggested for the paratrigeminal nucleus.