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. 1971 Apr;214(2):245–256. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009430

Oxytocin and ADH secretion in relation to electrical activity in antidromically identified supraoptic and paraventricular units

R E J Dyball
PMCID: PMC1331834  PMID: 5579637

Abstract

1. Electrical recordings were made from antidromically identified supraoptic and paraventricular units during intracarotid injections of hypertonic and isotonic sodium chloride solutions in rats.

2. The blood concentrations of vasopressin and oxytocin were estimated by bio-assay before and at different intervals after similar injections.

3. Although a significant change in the action potential activity of the supraoptic nucleus was associated with hormone release, the results were not entirely consistent with a simple relationship between action potential activity and hormone secretion. Firstly, although some units were excited by the stimulus a substantial number were inhibited. Secondly, the blood concentration of the hormones, particularly ADH, remained elevated for longer than might have been expected if additional hormone had ceased to be secreted as soon as firing rates had returned to control values.

4. There were substantial differences between the initial blood concentrations of vasopressin and oxytocin but the firing rates of units in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei appeared to be the same.

5. Although significantly less paraventricular than supraoptic units were affected by hypertonic injections the blood concentration of oxytocin was increased by a factor of 8 whereas that of vasopressin was increased by a factor of 2·7.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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