Drinking induced by subcutaneous injection of angiotensin II in the rat is blocked by the selective AT1 receptor antagonist DuP 753 but not by the selective AT2 receptor antagonist WL 19.

The role of AT1 and AT2 receptors in mediating the drinking response induced by angiotensin II in the rat was examined. Angiotensin II (0.1-1.0 mg/kg s.c.) caused a dose-dependent increase in drinking in water-replete rats. The angiotensin Il-induced drinking response was dose dependently blocked by the selective AT1 receptor antagonist DuP 753 (1-30 mg/kg s.c.). In contrast, the selective AT2 receptor antagonist WL 19 failed to block angiotensin II-induced drinking up to doses of 100 mg/kg s.c. and significantly enhanced the response at 3 and 100 mg/kg. These data suggest that drinking induced by angiotensin II is mediated by AT1 receptors and that AT2 receptor activation may inhibit the drinking response.