Hippocampal input to preoptic thermosensitive neurons in the rat.

The effects of electrical stimulation of ventral subiculum (VSB) of the hippocampus on the thermosensitive neurons in the preoptic area were studied in urethane-anesthetized rats. VSB stimulation affected thermosensitive neurons more frequently (92.1%, 58 of 63) than thermally insensitive neurons (71.4%, 55 of 77). The majority of the VSB-responsive thermosensitive neurons (33 of 44 warm-units and 11 of 14 cold-units) were initially inhibited following stimulation. The result provides further support for the involvement of hippocampus in the central control of thermoregulation.