Angiotensin-converting enzyme in subfornical organ mediates captopril-induced drinking.

These experiments tested whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) located within the subfornical organ (SFO) participates in the generation of water intake during peripheral ACE blockade with captopril (CAP). Lesions of the SFO virtually abolished drinking in response to intraperitoneal CAP injection. Intracranially injected CAP suppressed drinking induced by intraperitoneal CAP more completely with direct SFO injection compared with intraventricular or control tissue injections. This central captopril treatment did not alter the drinking response to subcutaneous hypertonic saline. Intraventricular injections of the angiotensin II (ANG II) receptor blocker sarile reduced drinking during oral captopril treatment in rats rehydrating from water deprivation. The results indicate that (a) the SFO mediates drinking caused by peripheral ACE inhibition; (b) the ACE located within the SFO may locally convert ANG I to ANG II, which then stimulates thirst; and (c) central ANG II receptors mediate thirst caused by peripheral ACE inhibition.