Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on the mRNA and protein expression of GluR1-3 in the preoptic area of the rat hypothalamus. Methods After 0.5 h for intraperitoneal injection of AVP (10μg/kg) or V1a receptor antagonist (30μg/kg), the changes of the mRNA and protein expression of POAAMPA receptor GluR1, GluR2 and GluR3 subunits were analysed by reverse transcriptase real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot technology. Results Compared with control group, the GluR2mRNA was significantly decreased (P<0.05) by the injection of V1a receptor antagonist. AVP could up-regulate the protein level of POA GluR1，GluR2 receptor subunits(P<0.01), but down-regulate the expression of GluR3 protein (P<0.01). Nevertheless,the effect of AVPcould not be blocked by V1a receptor antagonist. Conclusions Exogenous AVP is involved in modulation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the POA by regulation expression of AMPA receptor proteins.

Key words: Preoptic area, Arginine vasopressin, AMPA receptor