Role of plasma ANG II in the excretion of acute sodium load in a bird withsalt glands (Anas platyrhynchos)

This study was designed to further examine the role of plasma ANG II in the excretion of sodium in the Pekin duck, a bird with salt glands. Renal and extrarenal (salt gland) excretion of an intravenously administered isotonic saline load was monitored over a 4-h period in a group of eight birds unde r two conditions: the control condition, in which isotonic saline infusion decreased endogenous plasma ANG II from 102.6 to 16.5 pg/ml, and the experi mental condition, in which ANG II suppression was prevented by intravenous infusion of a 3.5 ng.kg(-1).min(-1) dose of synthetic ANG II. ANG II infusi on significantly decreased the total sodium excretion (by 15%), primarily v ia an inhibition of salt gland output. The results suggest that ANG II supp ression facilitates the excretion of an administered sodium load in birds w ith salt glands.