Angiotensin-induced drinking and the effect of bilateral nephrectomy.
The induction of drinking by the intraventricular administration of angiotensin II has been attributed to a specific interaction with receptors in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic border. These studies have been pharmacological in nature, involving exogenous peptide. In experiments reported elsewhere the present authors have shown that nephrectomy resulted in a regionally selective increase in levels of brain angiotensinogen, the putative prohormone of any CNS angiotensin peptides. Nephrectomy also markedly perturbs fluid and ion homeostasis. A study was therefore made of the effect of bilateral nephrectomy on spontaneous and angiotensin-induced drinking behavior. A deficit in spontaneous drinking following nephrectomy was observed, but it was noted that this related directly to diminished food intake. Angiotensin II-induced drinking was markedly potentiated following nephrectomy, indicative of possible up-regulation of angiotensin receptors in selected regions of the rat brain. The results are consistent with a physiological role for angiotensin in regulating fluid intake and volume homeostasis.
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000804:Angiotensin II