EVIDENCE OF PITUITARY INVOLVEMENT IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL OF WATER DIURESIS

Abstract

Water ingestion in rabbits anesthetized with chloralose-urethane evoked marked diuresis which was curtailed by painful stimulation in the lumbar region. In animals with pituitary stalks destroyed by electrolytic lesion, an antidiuretic response was not obtained upon similar stimulation. Electrical stimulation of the pituitary stalk in anesthetized and hydrated rabbits produced marked diminution in rate of urine flow, a reduction which persisted for appreciable periods followed by a subsequent rise. Control animals, in which the stalks had been destroyed prior to stimulation, showed no significant diminution in diuretic rate. The results support the concept of the hormonal nature of the pituitary antidiuretic principle and verify the hypothesis that, under certain conditions at least, its release is under reflex control.