Accelerated norepinephrine turnover in peripheral tissues after ventromedial hypothalamic stimulation in rats.

To obtain evidence for a functional connection between the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and the sympathetic nervous system, effects of electrical stimulation of the VMH, the lateral hypothalamic area (LH) and the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) on norepinephrine (NE) turnover in the heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, submandibular gland and the interscapular brown adipose tissue were examined in anesthetized rats. Stimulation of the VMH elicited a 3-8-fold increase in the rate of NE turnover in all organs examined, whereas stimulation of the LH or the PVN had no appreciable effects. The effect of VMH stimulation was abolished after sympathetic ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium. Epinephrine turnover in the adrenal gland was accelerated by stimulation of not only the VMH but also the LH. It was concluded that the VMH is intimately associated with sympathetic facilitation in peripheral tissues.