Absence of muscarinic modulation of vasopressin release from the isolated rat neurohypophysis

1. Isolated rat neurohypophyses were incubated in Locke solution at 37°C and the vasopressin output into the medium determined by bioassay. 2. Potassium chloride 60 mM caused a 9-fold increase in the rate of vasopressin release that was abolished when calcium chloride was omitted from the Locke solution. 3. Acetylcholine 5.5×10−4 M neither alone nor in the presence of atropine 2.9×10−6 M changed the “resting” release of vasopressin. 4. Neither acetylcholine 5.5×10−4 M nor oxotremorine 10−4 and 3×10−4 M altered the vasopressin release evoked by potassium chloride 60 mM. 5. In contrast to the peripheral adrenergic nerve fibres, the secretory terminal fibres of the neurohypophysis do not appea…