The dipsogenic effect of intracerebroventricular infusion of hypertonic NaCl in the sheep is mediated mainly by the Na ion.

In order to examine the importance of the chloride ion in the dipsogenic effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of hypertonic NaCl, the water intake in response to 30-min ICV infusions of hypertonic solutions of different Na salts (0.25 M NaCl, NaI, NaSCN and 0.125 M Na2S2O3), mannitol (0.5 M) and choline chloride (0.25 M) was studied in the sheep. All solutions of the Na salts caused significant water drinking compared with ICV control infusions of isotonic artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), except Na thiosulphate (Na2S2O3), which was much less effective, even after equilibration of its osmolality with the other sodium solutions by adding mannitol (0.125 M Na2S2O3/0.25 M mannitol). An inconsistent and small intake of water was induced by ICV hypertonic mannitol and choline chloride. It is concluded that the dipsogenic effect of ICV infusion of hypertonic NaCl in the sheep is mainly caused by the increased Na rather than the Cl ion concentration or the hyperosmolality in the extracellular fluid of juxtaventricular brain tissue.