This investigation looks at the possibility that there is a common central receptor for angiotensin II (Ang II) of peripheral or central origin. Intracarotid infusion of Ang II (450 ng/ml, 1.5 ml/min, 15 min) in 5 goats induced a mean intake of 1.29 +/- 0.27 litre of water in 25 min. Central infusion of Ang II (800 ng/ml, 0.05 ml/min for 15 min) produced a mean intake of 1.1 +/- 0.26 litre, over the same period. Simultaneous intracarotid and central infusions of Ang II stimulated an intake of water (2.0 +/- 0.2 litre) similar to that of addition of the responses to the individual stimuli (2.4 +/- 0.4 litre). These results indicate that there are independent receptor systems in the goat subserving the dipsogenic responses to peripherally and centrally administered Ang II.