Evaluation for roles of nitric oxide generated in the anteroventral third ventricular region in controlling vasopressin secretion and cardiovascular system of conscious rats

To examine local actions of nitric oxide (NO) on the neural mechanisms controlling the release of vasopressin (AVP) and the cardiovascular system in the anteroventral third ventricular region (AV3V), a pivotal area for autonomic functions, and to pursue the problem of whether it may have any role in the AVP and cardiovascular responses evoked by plasma hypertonicity or by increased prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in the AV3V - one possible factor implicated in osmotic responses.