Temperature guardian neurons in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus

Applying the slice method extracellular recordings of 218 hypothalamic neurons in Muscovy ducks during sinusoidal temperature changes were investigated. Seven neurons reacted in a hitherto unknown manner to temperatures very near the physiological limits. Four were exclusively sensitive to temperatures around 36.1°C and three to temperatures around 42.3°C. We recommend to call this kind of neurons temperature guardian neurons. The presented results suggest that the current neuronal model of temperature regulation of vertebrates should be extended by aspects of the two-tier theory of Bligh [J. Bligh, The thermosensitivity of the hypothalamus and thermoregulation in mammals, Biol. Rev. 41 (1966) 317–367].