OBJECTIVE The choroid plexus, the major source of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), contains receptors for angiotensin II and a very high concentration of angiotensin converting enzyme. Circulating angiotensin II decreases blood flow to the choroid plexus and the production of CSF. During recovery from hypoxia, marked increases in circulating angiotensin II have been described in some studies. We tested the hypothesis that CSF production decreases during posthypoxemic reoxygenation and examined related changes in plasma concentrations of angiotensin II. We also determined whether effect of posthypoxic reoxygenation on production of CSF is due to endogenous release of angiotensin II. METHODS We measured production of CSF in chloralose-anesthetized rabbits using ventriculocisternal perfusion of artificial CSF containing blue dextran. After control measurements, rabbits were subjected to one of the following interventions: (1) 30 minutes of hypoxia (PaO2 = 36 +/- 1 mmHg [mean +/- SE]) followed by 90 minutes of reoxygenation; (2) 30 minutes of hypoxia (PaO2 = 37 +/- 2 mmHg) followed by 90 minutes of reoxygenation in the presence of the angiotensin II antagonist saralasin; (3) hypoxia for 120 minutes (PaO2 = 35 +/- 1 mmHg); and (4) infusion of vehicle under normoxic conditions for 120 minutes (time control). Plasma concentrations of angiotensin II were also measured (radioimmunoassay) under control conditions, during hypoxia, and during posthypoxic reoxygenation (first intervention) and at corresponding time intervals in time control animals (fourth intervention). RESULTS Under control conditions, the rate of production of CSF averaged 6.7 +/- 0.1 microL.min-1. During posthypoxemic reoxygenation, production of CSF decreased by 31 +/- 4% (P < .05). In the presence of sarlasin, CSF production did not change significantly during posthypoxemic reoxygenation (-12 +/- 6%, P > .05). In time control animals and during prolonged hypoxia, CSF production did not change significantly (-12 +/- 5% [P > .05] and 9 +/- 7% [P > .05], respectively). Plasma concentrations of angiotensin were below the threshold of sensitivity of the assay under control conditions and during interventions in animals that were made hypoxic and then reoxygenated and in time control animals. CONCLUSIONS CSF production decreases during posthpoxemic reoxygenation. Since plasma concentrations of angiotensin II did not change during posthypoxic reoxygenation, this effect does not appear to be mediated by increases in circulating angiotensin II. We speculate that endogenous release of angiotensin II, perhaps in the choroid plexus epithelium, decreases production of CSF after hypoxic brain injury.