Angiotensin and salt appetite of BALB/c mice

The influence of systemic or intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of angiotensin II on the intakes of NaCl solution, water, and food was investigated in BALB/c mice. Systemic administration of angiotensin II had little, if any, influence on these ingestive behaviors. On the other hand, icv infusion of angiotensin II at 70 ng/day increased (P less than 0.05) intakes of NaCl solution and water by the third day of infusion. The amount of NaCl ingested daily during the infusion was two to three times body sodium content. The mean daily water intake increased to 40-60% of body weight. The vast increase in NaCl intake was not secondary to a natriuresis caused by the icv infusion of angiotensin II. The results suggest that angiotensin II has a direct effect on neural systems involved in sodium appetite in this species.