Thermosensitive afferent fibers in the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve in the guinea pig

Abstract

Afferent discharges were recorded from the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve. It was revealed that some afferent fibers were sensitive to an increase in liver temperature and that their Q10 values lay between 4 and 16. These thermosensitive fibers failed to respond to mechanical stimulations applied to the liver. The other types of afferent fibers in this nerve such as an osmosensitive one did not respond to thermal stimulation. These data support the existence of a thermosensitive structure in the liver which may possibly contribute to maintain thermal homeostasis.