Ablation of the region anterior and ventral to the third ventricle (AV3V region) in the rat does not abolish the release of oxytocin in response to systemic cholecystokinin.

The effect of peripheral administration of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) on release of oxytocin and vasopressin in the anaesthetized rat was investigated in sham-lesioned rats and in rats which had received electrolytic ablation of the region anterior and ventral to the third ventricle (AV3V region). CCK8 evoked a repeatable and dose-dependent release of oxytocin, but not vasopressin, into the systemic circulation of both sham and lesioned rats, confirming that in the rat CCK8 is a selective stimulus for oxytocin release, and showing that this release is not significantly impaired by lesions of the AV3V region.