Fig. 4.

Comparisons of OT and VP hnRNA and mRNA levels in supraoptic nuclei (SONs) of acutely hyperosmotically stimulated male rats vs. SONs in isotonic controls. Real-time PCR analysis of the various OT and VP RNA species in SON total RNA extracted from male rats that had received an acute hyperosmotic injection of 1.5 M NaCl (1% body wt) (n = 5), were compared with real-time PCR values of SONs from control males, which had received an isotonic saline injection of equal volume (n = 5). Changes in the OT hnRNAs and mRNA are shown in A, and in VP hnRNAs and mRNA in B. The acute osmotic stimulus produced significant increases only in VP hnRNA 2 (P < 0.05) and increases in VPhnRNA 1 but did not effect the expression of either OT hnRNA 1, OT hnRNA 2, OT mRNA, or VP mRNA. Data are presented as percentages of isotonic control. *Significantly different from male isotonic control, P < 0.05.