Subfornical organ and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus connections with median preoptic nucleus neurons: an electrophysiological study in the rat

Summary The role of pathways from the subfornical organ (SFO) to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) through the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) in regulating the activity of putative vasopressin (VP)-secreting neurons in the PVN was examined in urethane-anesthetized male rats. The activity of the majority (79%) of SFO neurons antidromically identified as projecting to the MnPO was excited by microiontophoretically (MIPh) applied angiotensin II (ANG II) and the effect was blocked by MIPh-applied saralasin (Sar), an ANG II antagonist. Identified SFO neurons that were excited by MIPh-applied ANG II were also excited by intravenously administered ANG II. Electrical stimulation of the SFO produced orthodromic excitation (48%) or inhibition (24%) of the activity of MnPO neurons antidromically identified as projecting to the PVN. Identified MnPO neurons that were excited by SFO stimulation were also excited by MIPh-applied ANG II, while the remaining neurons were not affected. The excitatory responses to SFO stimulation and to MIPh-applied ANG II were both blocked by MIPh-applied Sar, whereas the inhibitory responses to SFO stimulation were not affected. ANG II injected into the region of the SFO produced either an excitation (55%) or no effect (45%) on the activity of identified MnPO neurons. Electrical stimulation of the MnPO produced orthodromic excitation (27%) or inhibition (23%) of the activity of putative VP-secreting PVN neurons. ANG II injected into the region of the MnPO produced either an excitation (31%) or no effect (69%) on the activity of putative VP-secreting PVN neurons. These observations reveal some possible interconnections between three brain regions and suggest that circulating ANG II excites a population of neurons projecting from the SFO to the MnPO, and that these neurons themselves release ANG II as an excitatory transmitter on part of MnPO neurons projecting to the PVN, thereby causing enhanced activity of putative VP-secreting PVN neurons.