Release of vasopressin by electrical stimulation of the intermediate portion of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius in rats with cervical spinal cordotomy and vagotomy

The cervical spinal cord abd vagi were severed in anesthetized and artificially ventilated. Monopolar electrical stimulation of the intermediate portion of the nucleus of the tractus (NTS) resulted in subtle increase in concentration of plasma vasopressin (pVP) and in arterial pressure. We suggest that electrical stimulation of the NTS in rats undergoing surch surgical preparation to observe the pressor response and/or increase in pVP, represents a rapid approach for screening the neurosecretory function of the central neural integration to release vasopressin.