Abstract
To investigate homeostatic characteristics of the glucose-monitoring (GM) neuronal network in the rodent and macaque forebrain, complex series of electrophysiological and behavioral experiments have been performed. Extracellular single neuron recording studies in anesthetized Wistar rats and alert rhesus monkeys revealed specific and differential responsiveness of GM cells of the nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, mediodorsal and ventrolateral (or orbitofrontal) prefrontal cortex during: 1) microelectrophoretic administration of the diabetes inducing streptozotocin (STZ) and the primary cytokine interleukin 1beta (IL-1); 2) intraoral taste stimulation, as well as 3) performing a conditioned bar press feeding task. Bilateral microinjection of STZ into the above structures of male Wistar rats caused type 2 diabetes like acute and chronic metabolic alterations, whereas that of IL-1 elicited hypophagia, hypodipsia, hyperthermia, and metabolic deficits as well. Data substantiate that the forebrain GM neuronal network is indispensable in the maintenance of an adaptive homeostatic balance for the well being of the organism.Supported by: National Research Fund of Hungary (T042721, M036687), Health Care Science Council (ETT 315/2006), NKTH MEDIPOLIS RET-008/2005, and the H.A.S. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S33]
