Differential effects of hypothalamic catecholamine depletion on the release of arginine vasopressin and CRF-41 into hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal blood.

The effects of 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the ventral noradrenergic bundle (VNAB) and of intracerebroventricular 6-hydroxydopamine on hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal blood (HPB) concentrations of arginine vasopressin (AVP), corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF-41), and noradrenaline have been investigated. VNAB lesions and intracerebroventricular 6-hydroxydopamine caused a reduction of HPB CRF-41 concentration, while AVP remained unchanged. HPB noradrenaline concentration was reduced in animals treated with lateral ventricular 6-hydroxydopamine, but was unchanged in VNAB lesioned animals. Our results suggest differential effects of noradrenaline on the release of AVP and CRF-41 into HPB.