Substance P-like content in the hypothalamus of water-deprived rats.

The content of substance P-like in the hypothalamus of control and dehydrated rats was determined by bioassay on isolated jejunum of rabbits. Depriving the rats of drinking water for twelve days caused statistically significant increase of the substance P-like in the hypothalamus. These results suggest that water deprivation increases the synthesis of substance P-like in the rat hypothalamus.