Release of immunoassayable neurohypophyseal peptides from rat spinal cord, in vivo.

The subarachnoid space of the spinal cord was perfused in vivo in urethane-anesthetized rats and perfusates were assayed for arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin immunoreactivity. In control perfusates, oxytocin concentrations were 3 times those of AVP. Electrical stimulation of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, but not of other hypothalamic areas, yielded increased amounts of immunoassayable peptides in the spinal cord perfusates. Intravenous infusion of AVP did not elevate AVP concentrations in the cord perfusates. These data suggest that electrical stimulation of PVN neurons caused release of AVP and oxytocin from spinal cord terminals and support the concept that these peptides are neurotransmitters in the cord.