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

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.