The angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, induces barrel rotation in the rat

Intracerebroventricular injections of [Arg8]vasopressin (500 ng/rat) or endothelin-1 (70 ng/rat) into the right lateral ventricle induced rotation along the long axis of the body (barrel rotation) in rats. Losartan (10-200 microg/rat), an angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, also evoked barrel rotation, which was not inhibited by vasopressin and endothelin receptor antagonists. However, barrel rotation was not observed after injections of high doses of another angiotensin II receptor antagonist, [Sar1,Ile8]angiotensin II (100 microg/rat), or after angiotensin II (10 microg/rat). The results indicate that losartan does evoke barrel rotation which may be not mediated via vasopressin and endothelin receptors.