Modulation of synaptic inputs in magnocellular neurones in a rat model of cancer cachexia

In cancer cachexia, abnormal metabolism and neuroendocrine dysfunction cause anorexia, tissue damage and atrophy, which can in turn alter body fluid balance. Arginine vasopressin, which regulates fluid homeostasis, is secreted by magnocellular neurosecretory cells ( MNC s) of the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus. Arginine vasopressin secretion by MNC s is regulated by both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity, alterations in plasma osmolarity and various peptides, including angiotensin II . In the present study, we used whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings of brain slices to determine whether hyperosmotic stimulation and/or angiotensin II potentiate excitatory synaptic input in a rat model of cancer cachexia, similar to their effects in normal (control) rats. Hyperosmotic (15 and 60 mmol L ‐1 mannitol) stimulation and angiotensin II (0.1 μmol L ‐1 ) increased the frequency, but not the amplitude, of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in normal rats; in model rats, both effects were significantly attenuated. These results suggest that cancer cachexia alters supraoptic MNC sensitivity to osmotic and angiotensin II stimulation.