Inhibition of the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus by tetrodotoxin alters thermoregulatory functions in exercising rats

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Abstract
We have previously demonstrated a functional role of the preoptic area and anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH) in thermoregulation in freely moving rats at various temperature conditions by using microdialysis and biotelemetry methods. In the present study, we perfused tetrodotoxin (TTX) solution into the PO/AH to investigate whether this manipulation can modify thermoregulation in exercising rats. Male Wistar rats were trained for 3 wk by treadmill running. Body core temperature (Tb), heart rate (HR), and tail skin temperature (Ttail) were measured. Rats ran for 120 min at speed of 10 m/min, with TTX (5 μM) perfused into the left PO/AH during the last 60 min of exercise through a microdialysis probe (control, n = 12; TTX, n = 12). Tb, HR, and Ttail increased during the first 20 min of exercise. Thereafter, Tb, HR, and Ttail were stable in both groups. Perfusion of TTX into the PO/AH evoked an additional rise in Tb (control: 38.2 ± 0.1°C, TTX: 39.3 ± 0.2°C; P < 0.001) with a significant decrease in Ttail (control: 31.2 ± 0.5°C, TTX: 28.3 ± 0.7°C; P < 0.01) and a significant increase in HR (control: 425.2 ± 12 beats/min, TTX: 502.1 ± 13 beats/min; P < 0.01). These results suggest that the TTX-induced hyperthermia was the result of both an impairment of heat loss and an elevation of heat production during exercise. We therefore propose the PO/AH as an important thermoregulatory site in the brain during exercise.