Central Dipsogenic Effect of Synthetic Rat Atrial Natriuretic Polypeptide in Normotensive Rats

Abstract

The effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of synthetic rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide (α-rANP) on drinking behavior was studied in normotensive rats, α-rANP (0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 μg in 5 μl) caused a dose-dependent dipsogenic effect which was abated by i.c.v. pretreatment with saralasine (9 μg in 5 μl). These results suggest that α-rANP possesses dipsogenic effects in water repleted rats and that brain angiotensin is involved. In addition, our data indicate that, at least as far as the effect of cerebral ANP is concerned, there are some differences between α-rANP and human atrial natriuretic polypeptide.