Water intake of rats after implantation of ouabain into the hypothalamus

Abstract

Bilateral implantation of 1 [mu]g of ouabain, in the form of a 1% mixture with talcum, into the hypothalamus of the rat reduces spontaneous drinking almost to zero and abolishes the response to subcutaneous hypertonic saline. Deposition of the same amount of drug into the thalamus has no comparable effect on water intake. Ouabain, when applied to the hypothalamus, is about 100 times more toxic than by intravenous route, but similar toxic effects (restlessness, convulsions, and finally respiratory arrest) follow implantation into the thalamus or hippocampus.