Studies on the mechanism of action of angiotensin on ion transport by kidney cortex slices.

1. A study has been made of the effects of cyclic AMP, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and protein synthesis inhibitors on the response of rat kidney cortex slices to physiological doses of angiotensin.2. The additions of cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and/or phosphodiesterase inhibitors to the incubation medium (conditions which would be expected to increase intracellular cyclic AMP levels) were without effect on sodium or potassium transport by kidney slices.3. Actinomycin D (an inhibitor of the transcription stage of protein synthesis), at concentrations which inhibit RNA synthesis by 75%, has no effect on either control or angiotensin stimulated sodium transport.4. Cycloheximide or puromycin (inhibitors of the translation stage of protein synthesis), at concentrations which inhibit protein synthesis by 70-80%, have no effect on control sodium and potassium transport by kidney slices, but completely block the angiotensin stimulation of these processes.5. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible involvement of cyclic AMP and protein synthesis in the mechanism of action of angiotensin on kidney sodium and potassium transport.