In order to better understand the involvement of hindbrain catecholamine neurons in hypovolemia- induced secretion of arginine vasopressin (AVP), we injected anti-dopamine beta-hydroxylase saporin (DSAP) or unconjugated saporin (SAP) control solution into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH) of anesthetized rats to retrogradely lesion catecholamine neurons innervating magnocellular areas of the hypothalamus. Subsequently, hypotensive hypovolemia was induced by remote blood withdrawal (4.5 mls, 1 ml/min) using an intra-atrial catheter. Blood was sampled at 2, 5, 20 and 50 min after onset of blood withdrawal. The AVP response was severely impaired by DSAP. Peak responses at 50 min were 51 pg/ml in SAP control and 17 pg/ml in DSAP-lesioned rats, indicating the importance of catecholamine neurons for this response. We also measured AVP responses to osmotic challenge induced by administration of hypertonic saline (1M, 15 ml/kg, s.c.) and to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Osmotic challenge increased AVP levels, but the response was not impaired by DSAP, indicating that AVP neurons were not damaged by the DSAP injection. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia did not increase AVP levels in either DSAP or SAP treated rats. However, the same dose of insulin increased food intake and corticosterone secretion in SAP controls and these responses were profoundly impaired by DSAP. Thus, catecholamine neurons are required for both the AVP response to hypotensive hypovolemia and for feeding and corticosterone responses to hypoglycemia. Lack of an AVP response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in intact rats therefore indicates that responses to hypovolemia and hypoglycemia are mediated by different catecholamine neurons under distinct sensory controls.