Hypothalamic and neurohypophysial vasopressin and oxytocin content as influenced by haemorrhage in melatonin-treated male rats.

The effect of haemorrhage (1 ml per 100 g b. w.) on the vasopressin and oxytocin storage in the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis of melatonin-treated male rats was determined. Melatonin treatment (100 micrograms/100 g b. w., once daily over 8 days) resulted in a known decrease of vasopressin as well as oxytocin content both in the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis. Haemorrhage decreased the neurohypophysial vasopressin and oxytocin storage in animals injected with vehicle solution or otherwise not treated. In melatonin-treated rats, however, bleeding did not affect the actual (i.e., decreased by melatonin) vasopressin and oxytocin content in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. The results demonstrate that melatonin may be involved in mechanisms determining the rate of the response of vasopressinergic and oxytocinergic neurones to bleeding.