Periventricular Gray Research Articles

Steroid-Sensitive Single Neurons in Rat Hypothalamus and Midbrain: Identification by Microelectrophoresis

Minute amounts of Na-dexamethasone-21-phosphate administered by microelectrophoresis to the immediate extracellular environment promptly suppressed electrical activity of 15 out of 115 hypothalamic and mesencephalic neurons, the effect being readily reversible. Such neurons marked with fast green were found to lie in circumscribed areas of the periventricular gray of the third ventricle and aqueduct, and may represent a site of action of adrenocortical steroids in the regulation of corticotrophin releasing factor and/or adrenocortico-tropin secretion by negative feedback.

Similarity of cardiovascular responses to exercise and to diencephalic stimulation.

Devices to measure left ventricular pressure, diameter and heart rate in animals with closed chests were placed on the hearts of dogs. After recovery from this operation the dogs were trained to exercise on a treadmill and the cardiovascular responses to this exercise were recorded. Stimulating electrodes were then stereotaxically placed in the diencephalon. In some dogs the electrodes were chronically implanted, and the stimulation was carried out after recovery from this second operation. In other animals stimulation was carried out immediately while they were under chloralose anesthesia. Stimulation of the H1 and H2 fields of Forel and the periventricular gray of the third ventricle resulted in cardiovascular responses similar to those which result from exercise.