Fig. 7.

Stimulation of IRt/PCRt neurons promotes mastication and feeding as well as inhibits BAT thermogenesis. a, b Stimulation of IRt/PCRt neurons with a unilateral nanoinjection of bicuculline in an anesthetized rat elicited mastication and inhibited cooling-evoked BAT thermogenesis and tachycardia (a). The masseter electromyogram (EMG) chart (a) is expanded in (b). c Bicuculline injection into the IRt/PCRt in free-moving rats increased chewing time and food intake measured for 1 h after the injection (saline: n = 5, bicuculline, n = 7). All values are means ± SEM. *P < 0.05. Modified from Nakamura et al. [69] with permission