The Hypothalamus and Thermoregulation: A Review

The role of the hypothalamus in the control of body temperature can be studied by a number of different methods, e.g.: 1. Destruction of hypothalamic areas; 2. Electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus; 3. Heating or cooling of the hypothalamus; 4. Studies of the biochemistry of the hypothalamus; 5. Injection of pharmacological agents into the third ventricle or into the hypothalamus; 6. Recording of the electrical activity of hypothalamic neurons during heating and cooling of the brain. We will review the evidence that has been gathered using these techniques, and we will attempt to interpret the results in comparison with the more thoroughly studied mammalian hypothalamic thermoregulatory control system. Destruction of Hypothalamic Areas. Care should be taken to ascertain that the effects observed are the result of destruction per se and are not the result of iron deposits from stainless steel electrodes. It has been shown, for instance, that lesions in . . .