Angiotensin II-sensitive neurons in the rat lateral hypothalamic area with efferent projections to the subfornical organ.

Thirteen neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area were antidromically activated by electrical stimulation of the subfornical organ in the rat. The activity of almost all identified neurons (N = 11) was excited by microiontophoretically applied angiotensin II. On the other hand, of the antidromically unidentified lateral hypothalamic area neurons (N = 10) tested, 4 were excited by microiontophoretically applied angiotension II and 6 were not affected. The excitatory responses of identified and unidentified lateral hypothalamic area neurons to angiotensin II were blocked by microiontophoretically applied saralasin, an angiotensin II antagonist.