Effects of anterior and posterior hypothalamic temperature changes on thermoregulation in the rat.

Metabolic heat production and operant thermoregulatory behavior were studied in rats with thermodes implanted into the anterior and posterior hypothalamus. Metabolism was found to be inversely related to anterior hypothalamic temperature (between 32 and 42 degrees C) and not related to posterior hypothalamic temperature. Behavior, on the other hand, was found to be inversely related to both anterior and posterior hypothalamic temperature. Therefore, temperature changes in the anterior hypothalamus affect both autonomic and behavioral thermoregulation, whereas temperature changes in the posterior hypothalamus affect only behavioral thermoregulation.