Effects of U-97018 on Pressor Responses to Intracerebroventricularly Administered Angiotensin II in Conscious Normotensive Rats

We examined the effects of U-97018, an AT1 receptor antagonist, on the pressor response to intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered angiotensin II (AII) in conscious normotensive rats in comparison to losartan, EXP 3174, EXP 655, and saralasin. In an i.c.v. study, U-97018, losartan, and EXP 3174 reduced the pressor response. EXP 655, an AT2 selective antagonist, also inhibited the pressor response to i.c.v. AII. U-97018 combined with EXP 655 did not fully eliminate the pressor response to i.c.v. AII. Moreover, saralasin, a nonselective peptide AII antagonist, also failed to abolish the pressor response to i.c.v. AII. Therefore, both AT1- and AT2-receptors probably are functional in inhibiting the pressor response to i.c.v. AII and that a part of the i.c.v. AII-induced pressor response occurs through non-AT1- and non-AT2-receptors. In an intravenous (i.v.) study, U-97018, losartan, and EXP 3174 reduced the pressor response to i.c.v. AII. At 10 mg/kg orally (p.o.), which is an antihypertensive dose in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), neither U-97018 nor losartan reduced the pressor response to i.c.v. AII even at 180 min after administration. This result indicates that neither U-97018 nor losartan, at the oral antihypertensive dose, reaches the brain in sufficient amount to affect the pressor response to i.c.v. AII.