Tachyphylaxis of dipsogenic activity to intracerebroventricular administration of angiotensins.

Repeated intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of angiotensin II (AII) and angiotensin III (AIII) induced dipsogenic tachyphylaxis in the Sprague-Dawley rat. AIII caused a rapid suppression of drinking, whereas AII showed a progressive decline of water consumption with repeated injections. Tachyphylaxis due to the repeated i.c.v. application of AII failed to abolish subsequent drinking induced by neurotensin or carbachol, suggesting that the tachyphylaxis may be specific to the angiotensinergic system. However, AII-induced tachyphylaxis caused a complete elimination of bestatin-induced drinking which was anticipated given the likelihood that this aminopeptidase B inhibitor has its dipsogenic effect by inhibiting degradation of endogenous angiotensins. Angiotensin-induced tachyphylaxis responses could not be attributed to diminished dipsogenic activity due to volemic expansion of either the cerebroventricular space or gastrointestinal tract. These results concerned with central tachyphylaxis are consistent with previous findings in the periphery and suggest that desensitization of angiotensin receptors occurs in both populations.