The effect of microiontophoretically applied vasopressin and oxytocin on single neurones in the septum and dorsal hippocampus of the rat

Abstract

When arginine8-vasopressin (AVP) or oxytocin (OXT) were applied microiontophoretically to neurones in the lateral septal complex and dorsal hippocampus of rats, more than 50% of the neurones responded with excitation. The remaining neurones were not affected by AVP or OXT. Both the AVP- and OXT-induced responses displayed a short latency in onset and offset. Medial septal neurones were almost never excited by AVP or OXT. In more than 50% of the lateral septal and hippocampal neurones, the responses to glutamate were enhanced during the iontophoretic release of AVP or OXT. The possible role of both peptides as neurotransmitters in the structures examined is discussed.