Lipopolysaccharide increases arginine-vasopressin release from rat suprachiasmatic nucleus slice cultures

The aim of this study was to determine whether Escherichia coli lipopolysac charide at the doses of 25, 50 and 100 mu M influences arginine-vasopressin (AVP) secretion in young rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons. Lipopo lysaccharide administered in the medium for 3 h increased significantly the arginine-vasopressin release lasting up to 6 h after treatment. These resu lts provide the first evidence that lipopolysaccharide influences AVP secre tion in SCN neurons. Moreover, these findings may explain some central effe cts observed in vivo after lipopolysaccharide administration. (C) 2000 Else vier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.