STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF ANGIOTENSIN ON FLUID TRANSPORT BY THE MUCOSA OF RAT DISTAL COLON

Abstract

SUMMARY A study was made of the effects of cyclic AMP, theophylline, cycloheximide, puromycin and actinomycin D on the stimulation by angiotensin of fluid transport by sacs of rat colon mucosa. Cyclic AMP and theophylline, added together or separately, had no effect on fluid transport by colon sacs, suggesting that the stimulation of fluid transport after the application of angiotensin is not mediated through cyclic AMP. Cycloheximide and puromycin (used at concentrations which block colon protein synthesis by 50–90%) had no effect on fluid transport by control colon sacs, but completely blocked the stimulatory response of the colon to angiotensin. In contrast, actinomycin D (at a concentration which significantly inhibits RNA synthesis) did not affect fluid transport in control or angiotensin-stimulated colon sacs. The results are discussed in relation to the possibility that protein synthesis, at the stage of translation, is involved in the action of angiotensin on fluid transport by the colon.