Feeding and core temperature in albino rats: changes induced by preoptic heating and cooling.

At an ambient temperature of 25 degrees C, selective cooling of the area preoptica medialis to 24 degrees +/- 1 degrees C produced a significant decrease in food intake together with hyperthermia. Heating the same area to 43 degrees +/- 1 degrees C resulted in the opposite effects. At an ambient temperature of 35 degrees C, heating the area preoptica medialis to 43 degrees C resulted in a decrease in food intake despite concomitant hypothermia.