Differential regional haemodynamic effects of the non-peptide angiotensin II antagonist, DuP 753, in water-replete and water-deprived Brattleboro rats.

Regional haemodynamic effects of DuP 753 were assessed in conscious unrestrained Brattleboro (i.e. vasopressin-deficient) rats, chronically instrumented with miniaturised pulsed Doppler flow probes and intravascular catheters. Responses to DuP 753 were assessed in water-replete animals and in animals following 14h water deprivation to render cardiovascular status dependent on the renin angiotensin system (RAS). In water-replete animals DuP 753 had little effect on mean arterial blood pressure, but there were dose-dependent tachycardias and increases in renal blood flow, associated with vasodilatations. There were also increases in mesenteric blood flow and vascular conductance, but these were not clearly dose-related; DuP 753 had no significant effects on hindquarters haemodynamics. In water-deprived animals DuP 753 caused dose-dependent hypotension, tachycardia, and renal and mesenteric vasodilatations; hindquarters vasodilatation was not dose-dependent. In both conditions, in the presence of DuP 753 (10 mg/kg), captopril had little additional effect. DuP 753 appears to be an extremely effective tool for assessing the role of the RAS in cardiovascular regulation.