Forebrain control of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and angiotensin sensitivity in rabbit.

A small discrete area near the optic recess of the anterior ventral third ventricle (AV3V) in the rat brain has been shown to be an important mediator of cardiovascular and dipsogenic response to angiotensin II and osmotic stimuli and to be involved in normal day-to-day regulation of water and electrolyte balance. However, no attempt has been made until now to explore the function of the AV3V in species other than the rat. In the present study, rabbits subjected to electrolytic lesion of the AV3V exhibited expanded plasma volume and plasma sodium concentration, and significantly attenuated pressor responses to angiotensin II and hypertonic sodium chloride solutions injected via the lateral ventricles. Resting arterial pressure, plasma potassium concentration, extracellular fluid volume, and pressor responses to intravenous angiotensin II were not changed by lesioning. Thus, the effects of AV3V lesions in rabbits are similar, but not identical, to those previously observed in rats. Rabbits should be a suitable species in which to carry out studies aimed at distinguishing central and peripheral cardiovascular effects of angiotensin II.