Central effects of angiotensins I and II in conscious streptozotocin-treated rats

Abstract

Responses to intracerebroventricular (icv) angiotensin II (ANG II) were measured in Long-Evans rats treated with the diabetogenic agent, streptozotocin (STZ), or saline 28 days earlier. STZ-treated Long-Evans rats showed normal pressor responses to ANG II in the absence of drinking water, but bradycardic responses were impaired although there was no reduction in baroreflex sensitivity. When allowed to drink, saline-treated, but not STZ-treated, rats showed an enhanced pressor response to icv ANG II and a tachycardia. Peripheral V1-receptor antagonism attenuated the pressor response to icv ANG II, leaving a residual response that was greater in saline-treated than in STZ-treated rats. STZ-treated rats had attenuated pressor and heart rate responses to icv angiotensin I (ANG I). Although some cardiovascular responses to icv ANG I and ANG II were reduced in STZ-treated rats, these animals showed enhanced sensitivity to the dipsogenic effects of the peptides. Vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats showed little pressor response to icv ANG II unless drinking was allowed, in which case the pressor response was less in STZ-treated than in saline-treated Brattleboro rats, although there was no difference in drinking response.