Figure 3. Changes in plasma glucose concentrations during a 2-h administration of Bicuculline in the PVN of SCN-lesioned (closed triangles) and sham-lesioned animals (closed circles).

Open symbols show the results of the control experiment in the same animals one week later. Ablation of the SCN caused a profound reduction of the Bicuculline induced hyperglycemia, i.e. there was no significant difference between the Bicuculline treatment and the control day (Treatment, p = 0.647; Sample×Treatment, p = 0.121), contrary to the clear Bicuculline effect in the sham-lesioned animals (Treatment, p = 0.013; Sample×Treatment, p = 0.001). Basal plasma glucose concentrations (at t = 0) did not differ between SHAM-lesioned and SCN-lesioned animals (SCN-Sham: 6.6±0.2 and 6.8±0.3, and SCN-Lesion: 6.7±0.2 and 6.5±0.1 mmol/l for experimental and control days, respectively).