Je. Zabik et al., INTERACTIVE DOPAMINERGIC AND NORADRENERGIC SYSTEMS IN THE REGULATION OF THIRST IN THE RAT, Physiology & behavior, 54(1), 1993, pp. 29-33
Twenty-three hours of fluid deprivation led to elevated plasma levels
of corticosterone and free fatty acids, as well as increased whole bra
in dopamine levels, in rats. Drinking could be initiated in water-repl
ete rats by administration of single doses of the dopamine agonist, pe
rgolide, the dopamine beta-hydroxylase inhibitor, diethyldithiocarbama
te, the alpha-adrenergic antagonist, phenoxybenzamine, or the beta-adr
energic agonist. isoproterenol. In each case, the response to these ag
ents was reduced or ameliorated by cotreatment with the dopamine antag
onist, pimozide. Taken together, the results of the stress and pharmac
ological studies support the concept that drinking is initiated by a d
opaminergically mediated thirst drive, which in turn is regulated by a
noradrenergically mediated satiety system.