Ablation of subfornical organ does not prevent angiotensin-induced water drinking in sheep

The subfornical organ (SFO) and surrounding periventricular tissue were ablated in sheep. Such a lesion did not significantly reduce water drinking in response to intracarotid, intravenous, or intracerebroventricular infusions of [Val5]angiotensin II amide (ANG II) but caused reduced intake of water in response to intracarotid infusion of hypertonic saline. The dipsogenic response of these sheep to water deprivation for 3 days was similar to that of normal sheep subjected to water deprivation. Although the results are not conclusive in excluding the SFO from having a role in ANG II-induced drinking, they show that there are receptors outside the SFO sensitive to blood-borne ANG II that are involved in water drinking in sheep. The results also show that tissue in the SFO or its surroundings may be involved in drinking caused by acute hypertonicity.