Lateral hypothalamic area stimulation excites neurons in the region of the subfornical organ with efferent projections to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in the rat.

Fifteen neurons in the region of the subfornical organ (SFO) were antidromically activated by electrical stimulation of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the rat. Electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) excited the activity of 9 of the identified units, but did not affect the remaining units. The excitatory response of the identified units was blocked by microiontophoretically (MIPh) applied saralasin (Sar), an angiotensin II (ANGII) antagonist, but not by atropine (Atr), a muscarinic antagonist. These results suggest that the LHA has an excitatory influence on the activity of neurons in the region of the SFO with efferent projections to the PVN and that the influence may be mediated by ANGII receptors.