Résumé
Plasma vesopressin levels have been shown to fluctuate through out the rat oestrus cycle and following ovariectomy. To determine how these fluctuations in vesopressin are related to fluid regulations during the rat oestrus cycle. Studies have been carried out in cycling females rats using a specific inhibitor of Ornithine Decarboxylase [ODC], Di-fluoro-methyl Ornithine [DFMO 20 mg/100g body weight], the animals were housed in individual metabolism cages under 12 hours light/12 hour dark regimen with free access to food and water. Urine samples were collected to determine the osmolality and sodium concentration at 8.00 and 17.00-18.00 hours. The results of this study indicate a significant decrease in urine osmolality and sodium retention in the cycling pro-oestrus rats treated with DFMO as compared to the controls. The result of this study indicates that cause of fluid retention in the cycling rats during pro-oestrus may be the oestradiol dependent increased levels of vesopressin and the increase in the ODC activity in the Magno-cellular neurons is the part of mechanism underlying the oestradiol induced Vesopressin release