Neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area and zona incerta with ascending projections to the subfornical organ area in the rat.

Sixteen neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area (LH) and 12 neurons in the zona incerta (ZI) were antidromically activated by electrical stimulation of the subfornical organ (SFO) area in urethane-anesthetized male rats. The activity of these LH and ZI units was examined for response to intracarotid injections of isotonic (0.15 M NaCl solution, 0.05 ml) or hypertonic (0.18 M or 0.3 M NaCl solution, 0.05 ml) saline. All the units did not change their activity to the injections of isotonic saline. Of these units, 9 LH and 5 ZI units displayed an increase and 2 LH and 3 ZI units exhibited a reduction in neuronal activity following the injections of hypertonic saline, while the remaining 5 LH and 3 ZI units were unresponsive. The present results suggest that the LH and ZI neurons with ascending projections to the SFO may carry the information from osmoreceptive elements for modulating the actions of the SFO.