Effect of acute administration of isoproterenol and angiotensin II, separately and in combination, on water intake and blood pressure of rats.

The effects of administration of isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist, and angiotensin II, a peptide, separately and in combination, on water intake and blood pressure of rats were studied. The results of 6 factorially designed studies in which 4 different doses of each compound were administered revealed that water intakes increased directly with the logarithm of increasing doses of each. The effect of simultaneous administration of the 2 compounds on water intake was additive at submaximal doses of each. No interactive effects on water intake were observed when the 2 compounds were administered simultaneously in any study. Reduction in urine output appears to be a more sensitive response to administration of isoproterenol than increase in water intake since it was virtually abolished at a dose (2.5 micrograms/kg SC) that had no effect on water intake. The lowest doses of angiotensin II (25 and 50 micrograms/kg SC) had no significant effect on either water intake or urine output. The effect of simultaneous administration of both compounds on urine output was essentially the same as that accompanying administration of isoproterenol alone. Following administration of angiotensin II (150 micrograms/kg, SC) mean systemic blood pressure of unanesthetized, chronically cannulated rats reached maximal levels within 5 min and returned to pretreatment control level by 60 min. Following administration of isoproterenol (25 micrograms/kg, SC), mean systemic blood pressure decreased within 5 min, was maximally depressed by 30 min and had returned halfway to the pretreatment control level by 60 min. Simultaneous administration of isoproterenol and angiotensin II failed to induce a significant change in blood pressure. These results are of particular interest since they show that neither the pressor effect of angiotensin II nor the depressor effect of isoproterenol is essential for the induction of drinking by these 2 compounds.