Activation of the serotonergic 5-HT1A receptor in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus inhibits water intake and increases urinary excretion in water-deprived rats.

The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) may be considered as a dynamic mosaic of chemically-specified subgroups of neurons. 5-HT(1A) is one of the prime receptors identified and there is expressed throughout all magnocellular regions of the PVN. Several reports have demonstrated that a subpopulation of the magnocellular neurons expressing 5-HT(1A) receptors are oxytocin (OT) neurons and activation of 5-HT(1A) receptors in the PVN increases the plasma OT. Increasing evidence shows that OT inhibits water intake and increases urinary excretion in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serotonergic 5-HT(1A) receptors in the lateral-medial posterior magnocellular region of the PVN in the water intake and diuresis induced by 24 h of water deprivation. Cannulae were implanted in the PVN of rats. 5-HT injections in the PVN reduced water intake and increased urinary excretion. 8-OH-DPAT (a 5-HT(1A) agonist) injections blocked the water intake and increased urinary output in all the periods of the observation. pMPPF (a 5-HT(1A) antagonist) injected bilaterally before the 8-OH-DPAT blocked its inhibitory effect on water intake and its diuretic effect. We suggest that antidipsogenic and diuretic responses seem to be mediated via 5-HT(1A) receptors of the lateral-medial posterior magnocellular region of the PVN in water-deprived rats.

Interaction between paraventricular nucleus and medial septal area on the renal effects induced by adrenaline.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of alpha1, alpha2-adrenoceptors, and the effects of losartan and PD123319 (selective ligands of the AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptors, respectively) injected into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) on the diuresis, natriuresis, and kaliuresis induced by administration of adrenaline into the medial septal area (MSA). Male Holtzman rats with a stainless steel cannula implanted into the MSA and bilaterally into the PVN were used. The administration of adrenaline into the MSA increased in a dose-dependent manner the urine, sodium, and potassium excretions. The previous administration of prazosin (an alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist) injected into the PVN abolished the above effects of adrenaline, whereas yohimbine (an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist) doesn't affect the diuresis, natriuresis, and kaliuresis induced by adrenaline. Pretreatment with losartan into the PVN decreased in a dose-dependent manner the urine, sodium, and potassium excretions induced by MSA administration of adrenaline (50 ng), while PVN PD123319 was without effect. These results indicate that urinary and electrolyte excretion effects induced by adrenaline into the MSA are mediated primarily by PVN AT1 receptors. However, the doses of losartan were more effective when combined with the doses of PD123319 than given alone, suggesting that the urinary, natriuretic, and kaliuretic effects of MSA adrenaline may involve activation of multiple angiotensin II receptors subtypes into the PVN.