Influences of hepatic portal receptors on hypothalamic feeding and satiety centers.

&IMITT, n/TARU. hy%mms Uf hepi& purtd raCe@rS on @POthalamic feeding and satiety centers. Am. J. Physiol. 225(5) : IO89IO95 1973.-Evidence for a neural pathway from the hepatic portal vein to the lateral hypothalamus was found. Injections of hypertofiic saline and/or glucose into the portal vein of the rat produced changes in firing rate of certain lateral hypothalamic neurons. No responses to such injections were found in the supraoptic, paraventricular, or ventromedial nuclei. The response could be either one of increase or decrease in firing rate. Section of splanchnic nerves bilaterally or cord transection at the level of T5 eliminated these responses. Severing both vagi did not abolish but exaggerated the response. Ammonium chloride injection into the portal vein did affect hypothalamic units, but this action was not abolished by section of the spinal cord or severing afferent nerves.