Sensitivity of lateral hypothalamic neurons to nicotine: origin and possible correlation with nutritional effects of...

Single-unit activity was recorded extracellularly in the lateral hypothalamus of anesthetized rats. A number of neurons responded to intravenous nicotine, but most failed to respond similarly to local nicotine or systemic administration of a peripheral acting agonist. This finding suggests that these neurons respond indirectly to systemic nicotine through afferent pathways originating in central nicotinoceptive cells. The incidence of response was significantly greater in the cells sensitive to moderate changes in blood glucose. This finding suggests that the effects of peripheral nicotine on food intake and body weight are partly mediated by "glycemia-sensitive neurons" in the lateral hypothalamus.