The study was undertaken to examine the potential cross talk between vasopressin and angiotensin II (ANG II) intracellular signaling pathways. We investigated in vivo and in vitro whether vasopressin-induced water reabsorption could be attenuated by ANG II AT1 receptor blockade (losartan). On a low-sodium diet (0.5 meq/day) dDAVP-treated animals with or without losartan exhibited comparable renal function [creatinine clearance 1.2 +/- 0.1 in dDAVP+losartan (LSDL) vs. 1.1 +/- 0.1 ml.100 g(-1).day(-1) in dDAVP alone (LSD), P > 0.05] and renal blood flow (6.3 +/- 0.5 in LSDL vs. 6.8 +/- 0.5 ml/min in LSD, P > 0.05). The urine output, however, was significantly increased in LSDL (2.5 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.2 ml.100 g(-1).day(-1), P < 0.05) in association with decreased urine osmolality (2,600 +/- 83 vs. 3,256 +/- 110 mosmol/kgH(2)O, P < 0.001) compared with rats in LSD. Immunoblotting revealed significantly decreased expression of medullary AQP2 (146 +/- 6 vs. 176 +/- 10% in LSD, P < 0.01), p-AQP2 (177 +/- 13 vs. 214 +/- 12% in LSD, P < 0.05), and AQP3 (134 +/- 14 vs. 177 +/- 11% in LSD, P < 0.05) in LSDL compared with LSD. The expressions of AQP1, the alpha(1)- and gamma-subunits of Na-K-ATPase, and the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter were not different among groups. In vitro studies showed that ANG II or dDAVP treatment was associated with increased AQP2 expression and cAMP levels, which were potentiated by cotreatment with ANG II and dDAVP and were inhibited by AT1 blockade. In conclusion, ANG II AT1 receptor blockade in dDAVP-treated rats on a low-salt diet was associated with decreased urine concentration and decreased inner medullary AQP2, p-AQP2, and AQP3 expression, suggesting that AT1 receptor activation plays a significant role in regulating aquaporin expression and modulating urine concentration in vivo. Studies in collecting duct cells were confirmatory.