Plasma Vasopressin Concentrations and Fos Protein Expression in the Supraoptic Nucleus Following Osmotic Stimulation or Hypovolaemia in the Ovariectomized Rat: Effect of Oestradiol Replacement

The set points for vasopressin release in response to increasing plasma osmolality and hypovolaemia alter with reproductive status. Here, we studied stimulated vasopressin release following ovariectomy and oestrogen replacement, neuronal activity being measured in terms of immediate early gene expression. Observations were carried out on three groups of female Sprague‐Dawley rats. The first group were ovariectomized. The second group were given a subcutaneous oestrogen implant (20 µg/ml oestradiol‐17β) at the time of ovariectomy. The final group were left intact and observations performed at oestrus. Two weeks after ovariectomy, vascular cannulae were implanted under anaesthesia and at least 48 h allowed for recovery before hormone release was stimulated by infusion of 1.5 m NaCl for 90 min, or hypovolaemia induced by the removal of 10 mg/kg body weight taken in 1‐ml aliquots. Blood pressure was monitored, and blood samples were taken for determination of packed cell volume and plasma vasopressin and osmolality. After a minimum of 48 h, the challenge was repeated, the rats anaesthetized, and perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. Brain sections were processed for immunocytochemical detection of Fos protein. Vasopressin release in response to both stimuli was reduced in ovariectomized compared to intact rats and the response could be substantially restored by oestradiol replacement. The number of Fos positive cells in the supraoptic nucleus of oestrogen‐replaced rats was significantly higher than in the ovariectomized group and not statistically different from the intact group.