Response of glucose-responsive ventromedial hypothalamic neurons to scrotal and preoptic thermal stimulation in rats.

Almost all ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) neurons facilitated by electro-osmotic application of glucose responded to scrotal thermal stimulation. On the other hand, only 50% of neurons which did not respond to glucose responded to the thermal stimulation. The VMH neurons facilitated or inhibited by scrotal warming were mostly facilitated or inhibited by preoptic warming, respectively. These results suggest that thermal signals from scrotal skin and preoptic area were conveyed to VMH neurons, especially to glucose-responsive ones, and could influence feeding control.