Vasopressin and oxytocin release in the brain--a synaptic event.

In order to obtain evidence for a central release of vasopressin and oxytocin, the release of these peptides was demonstrated in various extrahypothalamic areas of the rat brain. It proved that in those areas where these peptidergic fibers terminate synaptically a vasopressin and/or oxytocin calcium-dependent release, similar to that in the neurohypophysis, could be evoked by potassium or veratridine. Such release was not found in areas in which these fibers do not exhibit synaptic specialization.