Effect of angiotensin II on some behavioral and neurochemical measures of the central serotonine system.

The effects of angiotensin II (AII) given intracerebroventricularly (icv.) on behaviors controlled by central serotonine (5-HT) and on some neurochemical measures of central 5-HT function have been investigated in rats. AII (0.1 and 0.5 micrograms) increased the 5-HT (20 micrograms, icv.) and L-tryptophan (200 mg/kg, ip.) induced hyposensitivity to painful electric stimuli delivered to the animals feet. Also AII (0.5 micrograms) intensified yawning, a 5-HT dependent behavior. This effect was decreased or abolished, respectively, by mianserin (3 mg/kg, i.p.) or cyproheptadine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), the 5-HT receptors blockers. AII, however, influenced neither the slight hyposensitivity of rats to electric current caused by 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg, ip.) nor the number of 'Wet-Dog' shakes evoked by 5-HTP (100 mg/kg, i.p.). Also, the peptide did change the rate of 5-HTP accumulation in brain measured after pretreatment of the animals with L-tryptophan (200 and 500 mg/kg, i.p.) preceded by the inhibition of central aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. In vitro AII (10(-5) - 10(-9) mol/l) did not affect release and only slightly increased uptake of 3H-5-HT by blood platelets. The data indicate that AII stimulates central 5-HT neurotransmission and that this action does not result from the peptide interference with the synthesis, release and uptake of 5-HT.