Influence of glucose on polysensory properties of neurons of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Using the method of intracellular pickup of neuronal activity, a high degree of convergence of impulses of various modalities onto the cells of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus was established in cats immobilized by means of diplacin dichloride. Great similarity was identified in the patterns of responses to somatic, visceral, light, and sound stimuli. With intravenous administration of glucose, 32% of the neurons studied increased their convergent capacity, 19% of the cells increased the frequency of spikes, and 23% changed the phase of the reaction. The excitatory type of reaction predominated in the responses of the cells investigated.