The regulation of energy metabolism and van't Hoff's rule in the homeotherm animal

Abstract

1. Shivering and non-shivering thermoregulatory heat production in response to cold as well as exposure of thyroxine-treated rats to low temperatures demonstrate the existence of an integrative regulation of energy metabolism. 2. Responses of rats with hypothalamic and epithalamic lesions to cold and heat, and with epithalamic lesions to hypoxia furnished evidence for central regulation of energy metabolism independently of thermoregulation. 3. By abolishing the increase in heat production in response to hyperthermia and by analysis of observations on animals with hypothalamic and epithalamic lesions, it could be demonstrated convincingly that responses of energy metabolism, apparently compatible with van't Hoff's rule, are actually mediated by central nervous mechanisms. © 1966 Biologischen Anstalt Helgoland.