Vasopressin and oxytocin are depleted from rat hypothalamic nuclei after oral hypertonic saline.

Vasopressin and oxytocin were measured by radioimmunoassay in rat posterior pituitary and microdissected hypothalamic areas after 3 and 10 days of oral 2 percent sodium chloride in place of drinking water. There was a significant decrease in concentration of both hormones in posterior pituitary and in specific areas of the hypothalamus. Supraoptic, paraventricular, and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei and the retrochiasmatic area had decreased concentration of one or both hormones following hypertonic saline, while hormone concentration in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and median eminence was unaffected.