Sodium intake by hyperosmotic rats treated with a GABA(A) receptor agonist into the lateral parabrachial nucleus.

Inhibitory mechanisms in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) and central GABAergic mechanisms are involved in the regulation of water and NaCl intake. Besides increasing fluid depletion-induced sodium intake, the activation of GABA(A) receptors with muscimol into the LPBN also induces ingestion of 0.3 M NaCl in normonatremic, euhydrated rats.