Elevated glucose utilization in subfornical organ and pituitary neural lobe of the Brattleboro rat.

Homozygous Brattleboro rats have a genetic inability to synthesize vasopressin and therefore manifest the signs and symptoms of diabetes insipidus. Measurement of local cerebral glucose utilization in these rats has revealed increases specifically localized to the subfornical organ and pituitary neural lobe. Vasopressin replacement reverses the increased glucose utilization only in the subfornical organ. The results suggest that vasopressin regulates the rate of glucose metabolism in the subfornical organ.