Role of Brain Prostaglandins in the Control of Vasopressin Secretion in the Conscious Rat*

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Abstract
Administration of 10 .mu.g prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), the primary PG identified in the rat brain, into the lateral cerebral ventricle of conscious rats resulted in a significant elevation in the plasma vasopressin (AVP) concentration, without a change in mean arterial blood pressure or heart rate. The central administration of indomethacin (100 .mu.g) resulted in a significant attenuation of the AVP response to a peripheral osmotic stimulus (iv 2.5 M NaCl; 100 .mu.l/kg .cntdot. min for 30 min), but had little effect on the AVP response to hemorrhage (two successive 10% reductions in the estimated blood volume). Administration of another PG synthetase inhibitor, meclofenamate (100 .mu.g, into the lateral cerebral ventricle), resulted in a significant attenuation of the AVP response to both the osmotic stimulus and hemorrhage. It is concluded that brain PGs play a central role in the control of AVP secretion.