Effects of subtypes alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors of the lateral hypothalamus on the water and sodium intake induced by angiotensin II injected into the subfornical organ.

The present experiments were conducted to investigate the role of the alpha(1A)-, alpha(1B), beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptors of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) on the water and salt intake responses elicited by subfornical organ (SFO) injection of angiotensin II (ANG II) in rats. 5-methylurapidil (an alpha(1A)-adrenergic antagonist), cyclazosin (an alpha(1B)-adrenergic antagonist) and ICI-118,551 (a beta(2)-adrenergic antagonist) injected into the LH produced a dose-dependent reduction, whereas efaroxan (an alpha(2)-antagonist) increased the water intake induced by administration of ANG II into the SFO. These data show that injection of 5-methylurapidil into the LH prior to ANG II into the SFO increased the water and sodium intake induced by the injection of ANG II. The present data also show that atenolol (a beta(1)-adrenergic antagonist), ICI-118,551, cyclazosin, or efaroxan injected into the LH reduced in a dose-dependent manner the water and sodium intake to angiotensinergic activation of SFO. Thus, the alpha(1)- and beta-adrenoceptors of the LH are possibly involved with central mechanisms dependent on ANG II and SFO that control water and sodium intake.