Exercise and thermoregulationDownloads

A 35-year-old woman presents to the clinic for a several-month history of heat intolerance. She lives in a small apartment with her husband and reports that she always feels hot and sweaty, even when their air conditioning is on high. On further questioning, she's also had a 4.5 kg (10 lb) unintentional weight loss. The vital signs include: heart rate 102/min and blood pressure 150/80 mm Hg. The physical exam is notable for warm and slightly moist skin. She also exhibits a fine tremor in her hands when her arms are outstretched. Which of the following laboratory values is most likely low in this patient?

An investigator is studying the function of the lateral nucleus of the hypothalamus in an experimental animal. Using a viral vector, the genes encoding chloride-conducting channelrhodopsins are injected into this nucleus. Photostimulation of the channels causes complete inhibition of action potential generation. Persistent photostimulation is most likely to result in which of the following abnormalities in these animals?