Effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on angiotensin-stimulated and angiotensin-inhibited fluid transport by rat jejunum in vivo.

A study has been made of the effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on the responses of rat jejunum in vivo to intravenous infusions of angiotensin. Actinomycin D, an inhibitor of the transcription stage of protein synthesis, was without effect on the stimulation of fluid transport which follows the infusion of low doses of angiotensin. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of the translation stage of protein synthesis, blocked the stimulatory response to angiotensin, but was without effect on the inhibitory response to high doses of the hormone. It is concluded that low (physiological) doses of angiotensin stimulate fluid transport by a mechanism involving protein synthesis at a stage later than transcription whereas high doses of the hormone inhibit fluid transport by a process which does not require protein synthesis.