THE RELEASE OF ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE FROM THE PITUITARY STALK AFTER INTRAVENOUS CALCIUM CHLORIDE OR MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE INFUSION IN RATS

Abstract
Experiments were performed on male albino rats in urethane anaesthesia. The pituitary gland was exposed, the pituitary stalk was cut and the whole gland was removed. Isotonic sodium chloride solution used for washing the cut pituitary stalk was collected and its antidiuretic activity assayed. Antidiuretic substance was liberated from the infundibular axons into the washing fluid during continuous intravenous infusion of a hypotonic saline. The antidiuretic activity of the washing fluid was assayed in ethanol-anaesthetized rats. A 5% sodium chloride solution, infused intravenously to the limit of 1% of the body weight, caused a significant release of antidiuretic substance from the cut infundibular axons. A similar effect was observed after the i.v. infusion of 1 ml. of a solution containing 0·06 mm-CaCl2. The i.v. infusion of 0·02 mm-MgCl2 decreased the amount of antidiuretic substance liberated from the pituitary stalk significantly.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: