Drinking and vasopressin release during ventricular infusions of hypertonic solutions

Six dogs were administered third ventricular infusions of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (292 mosmol/l) alone or artificial CSF to which neither NaCl, sucrose, glucose, or urea was added to yield a final osmolar concentration of 500 mosmol/l. The volume of water drunk during 45 min of infusion was measured and blood was sampled for determination of plasma vasopressin concentration at 15-min intervals. Artificial CSF made hypertonic by addition of NaCl or sucrose stimulated water intakes of 9.0 +/- 3.2 ml/kg (mean +/- SE) and 7.3 +/- 3.7 ml/kg, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the amounts drunk and the latencies. In contrast, artificial CSF containing glucose, urea, or artificial CSF alone were without effect. Plasma vasopressin concentration increased significantly in response to intraventricular NaCl and sucrose but was not affected by glucose, urea, or artificial CSF alone. These data are compatible with an osmoreceptor mechanism mediating drinking and vasopressin release.