Inhibition of renal electrolyte excretion by gabaergic pathways of the lateral hypothalamic area.

Injection of gamma butyric acid (GABA) into the lateral hypothalamic area of unrestrained conscious rats caused a decrease in renal electrolyte excretion with an increase in urinary flow. When picrotoxin, a specific inhibito of gabaergic pathways, was administered, a significant increase in renal water and electrolyte excretion occured. The effect of simultaneous injection of pidrotoxin and GABA into the same site indicate that picrotoxin was less potent in reversing tyhe effect induceb by GABA than GABA was in reversing the effect of picrotoxin. We conclude that GABA acts directly on the neuronal mechanisms involved in the control of water and elecltrolyte excretion, perhaps by exerting a tonic inhibitory action on renal electrolyte excretion