The caudal periaqueductal gray participates in the activation of brown adipose tissue in rats.
To investigate the involvement of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) in the control of non-shivering thermogenesis, we tested the effects of electrical or chemical stimulation of the PAG on thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in urethane anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation (0.1 mA, 33 Hz, 0.5 ms) or application of D,L-homocysteic acid (0.5 mM, 0.3 micro l) into the lateral region of the caudal PAG (cPAG) elicited BAT thermogenesis, measured as a rise in the local temperature of interscapular BAT. These results suggest that neurons in the cPAG send excitatory efferent signals for BAT thermogenesis.
D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
D006710:Homocysteine; C007956:homocysteic acid