Posterior pituitary dopamine and noradrenaline content: effect of thirst, ethanol and saline load.

Dopamine and noradrenaline content in the posterior pituitary were found to be lower in alcohol-loaded unanesthetized rats than in rats thirsting for 72 h. Dopamine content was also found to be lower in anesthetized saline loaded rats in comparison with hydropenic animals. It is concluded that in situations in which an increase of vasopressin release is expected, the posterior pituitary content of catecholamines will also be increased, and vice versa, which might imply their role in the release of vasopressin.