Firing patterns of hypothalamic supraoptic neurons during water deprivation in monkeys.

Water deprivation in monkeys caused an acceleration of action potential firing of supraoptic neurons, but not of neurons located 2 to 3 millimeters above the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus. Whereas in the normally hydrated animal only 12 percent of the neuroendocrine cells discharged periodically, the proportion of these periodic bursters increased markedly with increasing plasma osmolarity. This finding suggests that such periodically firing supraoptic neurons are those engaged in active neurohypophyseal hormone secretion.