The neural pathways from the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) mediated by subfornical organ (SFO) neurons were examined in urethane-anesthetized male rats in order to determine the excitability of vasopressin (VP)-secreting neurons in the PVN. Microinjection of angiotensin II (AII) into the LHA excited the activity of nearly half (n = 8) of the SFO neurons (n = 18) activated antidromically by electrical stimulation of the PVN. Microinjection of AII into the LHA also caused excitation of approximately one-quarter (n = 11) of putative VP-secreting neurons (n = 45) in the PVN while the excitatory responses of the putative VP-secreting neurons were blocked or attenuated by pretreatment with the AII antagonist, saralasin (Sar), in the SFO. Electrical stimulation of the LHA, on the other hand, produced excitation (n = 17) or inhibition (n = 14) of the putative VP-secreting neurons (n = 52) in the PVN. About half of the excitatory responses to LHA stimulation were blocked or attenuated by pretreatment with Sar in the SFO, whereas the inhibitory responses were not affected. These results show some possible connections between the LHA and PVN, and suggest that AII-sensitive LHA neurons with efferent projections to the SFO may act to enhance the excitability of putative VP-secreting neurons in the PVN via an excitatory influence on the AII-sensitive SFO neurons.