The anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) region is essential for pressor, dipsogenic and natriuretic responses to central carbachol.

In the present study we investigated the effect of anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) lesion on pressor, dipsogenic and natriuretic responses produced by the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of a cholinergic agonist (carbachol). Freely moving rats with AV3V or sham lesion (1-2 days and 9-12 days) and a delay cannula implanted into the lateral ventricle were studied. Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP, 1 h record), water intake (1 h) and Na+ excretion (2 h) were analysed after i.c.v. injection of carbachol (7.5 nmol). In sham rats, i.c.v. injection of carbachol produced an increase in MAP (35 +/- 2 mmHg), water ingestion (7.7 +/- 1.2 ml/h) and Na+ excretion (626 +/- 42 microEq/120 min). The effects of i.c.v. carbachol injection were reduced 1-2 days after AV3V lesion (delta MAP = 6 +/- 2 mmHg, water ingestion = 0.3 +/- 0.3 ml/h and Na+ excretion = 31 +/- 11 microEq/120 min) and 9-12 days (delta MAP = 11 +/- 3 mmHg, water ingestion = 3.3 +/- 0.9 ml/h and Na+ excretion = 37 +/- 11 microEq/120 min). These results show that the AV3V region is essential for the full development of the pressor, dipsogenic and natriuretic responses produced by central cholinergic receptors.