[Neuronal reactions of the ventromedial hypothalamus to stimulation of gastric mechanoreceptors and to the intra-arterial administration of glucose and sodium chloride].

In anesthetized and immobilized cats, intact and with cut splanchnic nerves ("vagal" animals) of vagal nerves ("splanchnic" animals), high degree of responsiveness of hypothalamic neurons, with prevailing excitatory reactions, was found. The responses were obtained mainly to stimulation of gastric adapting mechanoreceptors. Information from the latters reaches the hypothalamic neurons through splanchnic and vagal afferents. Some hypothalamic mechanosensitive neurons were shown to be gluco- and osmosensitive and thereupon able to integrate both the neural and the humoral informations. The functional role of vagal and splanchnic mechanoreceptors of the stomach in activation of hypothalamic units and the "converging ability" of "visceral" neurons of the ventromedial hypothalamic feeding center, is discussed.