The preoptic area is responsible for thermoregulation and receives nervous stimulation from thermoreceptors in the skin, mucous membranes, and hypothalamus itself.

What does the preoptic area of the hypothalamus do?

The preoptic region, in and near the rostral hypothalamus, acts as a coordinating center and strongly influences each of the lower effector areas. The preoptic area contains neurons that are sensitive to subtle changes in hypothalamic or core temperature.

How the preoptic area neurons get the body temperature sensing?

In the preoptic area, COX2 expression in endothelial cells result in local PGE2 production, which is the dominant source of fever-inducing PGE2. PGE2 acts through EP3 receptors expressed in the median preoptic (MnPO) to effect changes in body temperature.