Effect of intravenous angiotensin II on Fos distribution and drinking behavior in rabbits

We investigated the effect of intravenous infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II, 40 ng.kg(-1).min(-1)) on the distribution of Fos in the subfornical organ (SFO), organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT), and the medulla of the conscious rabbit. ANG II elicited significant increases in the number of Fos-positive cell nuclei in the SFO and OVLT (15- and 10-fold, respectively). Raising blood pressure with phenylephrine did not elicit Fos in these nuclei. These nuclei are believed to be responsible for the dipsogenic actions of ANG II; however, ANG II was not dipsogenic. When blood pressure was held at preinfusion levels by the coadministration of sodium nitroprusside and ANG II, the rabbits did not drink but Fos production in the lamina terminalis was elevated. In the medulla, ANG II did not significantly increase Fos production in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) or ventrolateral medulla (VLM). However, with the coadministration of sodium nitroprusside, there were marked increases in the NTS and VLM. The results suggest that neurons in the SFO and OVLT are either not involved in the dipsogenic pathways or there is disruption further downstream in the central pathways that would normally mediate a drinking response to ANG II.