title: The renal actions of oxytocin in the conscious rat.
abstract: The renal actions of oxytocin were studied in the conscious unrestrained rat infused with 0.077 M saline at a rate of 150 microliters/min. During the control period volume and sodium excretion reached stable equilibria, the rates being equal to those infused. Administration of oxytocin at 200 pmol/min produced plasma oxytocin levels of 26.0 +/- 2.1 pmol/l and caused a significant diuresis and natriuresis. Renal responses could also be seen with a lower dose of 30 pmol/min which produced plasma levels of 5.1 +/- 0.5 pmol/l while a dose of 15 pmol/min which produced no significant increase in the plasma oxytocin had no renal effect. It appears that oxytocin has a natriuretic action in concentrations within the physiological range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, United Medical School, St Thomas's Campus, London, U.K.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Windle
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Forsling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D010121:Oxytocin