The search for thermoregulatory neurons is heating up

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that the median preoptic area contains a population of neurons expressing an array of fast neurotransmitters and receptors that collectively cause a fall in body temperature in response to environmental warming or depleted energy stores. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Piñol et al. (2021) identify a separate population of median preoptic neurons that are responsible for cold defense and cause stress-related hyperthermia.