The influence of central infusions on drinking due to peripheral osmotic stimuli in the pigeon (Columba livia)

The drinking responses of pigeons infused simultaneously IV (0.334 ml/min) and ICV (2 microliters/min) for 15 min with various osmotic solutions were observed during, and for 60 min after, the combined infusions. Drinking in response to IV infusion of 0.5 M NaCl or 1.0 M sucrose was unaffected by simultaneous ICV infusion of 0.15 M NaCl, enhanced by ICV 0.3 M NaCl, inhibited during the infusion of water ICV and attenuated by ICV infusion of 0.9 M sucrose. Drinking in response to IV infusion of 1.0 M NaCl or 1.5 M sucrose, two solutions that would have greatly increased CSF sodium concentration, was only slightly affected by simultaneous ICV infusions of NaCl, sucrose or water. These results show that drinking following IV administration of osmotic stimuli can be affected by ICV infusions that may have further increased or decreased CSF sodium concentration thereby suggesting that CSF sodium concentration may play a "permissive role" in osmotically induced drinking.