We previously reported that in the rodent, a model of dilutional hyponatremia associated with hepatic cirrhosis, TRPV4 expression is increased in lipid rafts from the hypothalamus and that this effect may be angiotensin dependent. In this study, we utilized the immortalized neuroendocrine rat hypothalamic 4B cell line to more directly test the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) on TRPV4 expression and function. Our results demonstrate the expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) transcripts, for sex-determining region Y (SRY) (male genotype), arginine vasopressin (AVP), TRPV4, and ANG II type 1a and 1b receptor in 4B cells. After a 1-h incubation in ANG II (100 nM), 4B cells showed increased TRPV4 abundance in the plasma membrane fraction, and this effect was prevented by the ANG II type 1 receptor antagonist losartan (1 M) and by a Src kinase inhibitor PP2 (10 M). Ratiometric calcium imaging experiments demonstrated that ANG II incubation potentiated TRPV4 agonist (GSK 1016790A, 20 nM)-induced calcium influx (control 18.4 Ϯ 2.8% n ϭ 5 and ANG II 80.5 Ϯ 2.4% n ϭ 5). This ANG II-induced increase in calcium influx was also blocked by 1 M losartan and 10 M PP2 (losartan 26.4 Ϯ 3.8% n ϭ 5 and PP2 19.7 Ϯ 3.9% n ϭ 5). Our data suggests that ANG II can increase TRPV4 channel membrane expression in 4B cells through its action on AT1R involving a Src kinase pathway.angiotensin; TRPV4; hypothalamus; 4B; SRC kinase; SRY TRANSIENT RECEPTOR POTENTIAL (TRP) channel superfamily plays a central role in sensory physiology (47, 54). The TRP subfamily vanilloid member 4 (TRPV4) is a nonselective cation channel that is calcium permeable and shows polymodal activation by diverse stimuli including, but not limited to, moderate heat, cell swelling, and endogenous ligands (51,55,69). Functionally, it is strongly implicated in a number of physiological systems that include endothelial function and vascular tone (21, 64), renal function (56), central osmosensation (41, 46), and regulating hydromineral homeostasis (51, 55, 69). Mutations of TRPV4 are linked to a number of motor and sensory neuropathies and skeletal dysplasias (51, 69).TRPV4 is expressed in central nervous system (CNS) regions involved in neuroendocrine function including neurosecretory cells in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus (PVN) (3, 9). In a rodent model of cirrhosis, we have previously reported increased TRPV4 trafficking to lipid rafts in hypothalamic samples that contained the SON, the PVN, and the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (9). Importantly, we also found that increased TRPV4 trafficking correlated with activation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and was reversed after RAS inhibition (9).Angiotensin II (ANG II) is an effector molecule of RAS (25). Circulating ANG II is known to contribute to water and electrolyte homeostasis peripherally and centrally through its actions on blood-brain barrier-deficient circumventricular organs in the forebrain and dorsal hindbrain (31, 43). As part of the ...