Melatonin injected in a single intraperitoneal dose of 100 micrograms/100 g b.w. to euhydrated rats resulted in a decrease of neurohypophysial oxytocin content but the hypothalamic oxytocin storage as well as the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial storage of vasopressin were not changed. Following 8 d of once-daily melatonin treatment the hypothalamic and neurohypophysial oxytocin and vasopressin content was decreased. It might be therefore suggested that melatonin increases the release of neurohypophysial hormones and/or decreases their synthesis. Melatonin did not significantly modify the neurohypophysial vasopressin depletion rate in animals deprived of water up to 8 days. No consistent effects of melatonin on the decrease of hypothalamo-neurohypophysial content of oxytocin were noted under conditions of dehydration and simultaneous administration of melatonin up to 8 d.
Animals Hypothalamus