Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-system in Brattleboro rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus.

Brattleboro rats homozygous for hypothalamic hereditary diabetes insipidus (DI rats) were used to investigate the following questions: a) Do exogenous and endogenous angiotensin II (AII) have an antidiuretic effect in diabetes insipidus? b) Does AII mediate the antidiuresis induced by furosemide? The following results were obtained: 1. AII (5 mg/kg s.c. in oil) and furosemide (50 mg/kg i.p.) decreased urine flow and increased urinary sodium excretion. Furosemide led to a two-fold increase of AII plasma concentrations and a decrease of plasma sodium levels. 2. SQ 14 225 (2 x 2.5 mg/kg p.o.), an angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor, led to an increase of urine flow and to a slightly elevated urinary sodium excretion. 3. When the formation of AII was blocked by SQ 14 225 (2 x 2.5 mg/kg p.o.), AII plasma concentrations were 2.5-fold decreased, but furosemide still reduced urine flow. We conclude that plasma AII might have an antidiuretic action in DI rats. However, AII does not mediate the antidiuresis induced by furosemide.