The hypothalamus neurons response to the signals from surface and deep skin thermoreceptors

1. 1.197 neurons have been studied in the anterior and posterior hypothalamus of 30 rabbits; 28 of them responded to the thermal skin stimulation. The response latencies were different and varied from 2–5 to 50–80 s; the response latencies of the same neuron were constant under repeated stimulation.

2. 2.These differences were concluded to be accounted for by some neurons being connected to the surface skin layers thermoreceptors, and others to the deeper ones. These facts support the hypotheses that the thermoregulatory system measures the intensity of the heat flow through the skin.

Author Keywords: Thermosensitive neurons; the response latency; cold and warm stimulation of skin; anterior and posterior hypothalamus; rabbit