Abstract-The preferred ligand of angiotensin (Ang) II type 2 (AT 2 R)-mediated natriuresis is Ang III. The major enzyme responsible for the metabolism of Ang III is aminopeptidase N, which is selectively inhibited by compound PC-18. In this study, urine sodium excretion rates (U Na V), fractional excretion of sodium, fractional excretion of lithium, glomerular filtration rate, and mean arterial pressures were studied in prehypertensive and hypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and compared with age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs Key Words: natriuresis Ⅲ angiotensin receptors Ⅲ hypertension Ⅲ angiotensin III Ⅲ aminopeptidase N Ⅲ SHR S pontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) develop hypertension at Ϸ6 weeks of age and are widely used as a model to study the development and maintenance of human genetic hypertension. 1 One of the proposed mechanisms of the initiation of hypertension in SHRs involves a primary defect in renal sodium (Na ϩ ) excretion. 2-8 Over time, this defect necessitates an increase in renal perfusion pressure, an adaptation that becomes central to the development and maintenance of hypertension. 9,10 In normal rodents, both the intrarenal renin-angiotensin (Ang) system and the renal dopaminergic system play important roles in renal proximal tubule Na ϩ handling. Basal Na ϩ excretion rates are generally determined by the activity of the intrarenal renin-Ang system, whereas the dopaminergic system regulates Na ϩ excretion in response to high-salt intake. Although an acute sodium load or rise in blood pressure increases sodium excretion in normal rodents, the following 3 significant pharmacological manipulations also induce natriuresis: (1) blockade of intrarenal Ang II type 1 receptors (AT 1 Rs); (2) stimulation of renal dopamine D 1 -like receptors; and (3) activation of intrarenal Ang II type 2 receptors (AT 2 Rs). Recent studies have shown that natriuresis, resulting from both AT 1 R blockade and D 1 -like receptor stimulation, are mediated, at least in part, by AT 2 R activation, because concomitant blockade of renal AT 2 Rs in these situations abolishes the natriuresis. 11,12 Regarding direct renal AT 2 R-induced natriuresis, renal interstitial (RI) Ang III, but not Ang II, results in increased Na ϩ excretion when AT 1 Rs are blocked systemically. 11 This effect is also abolished by concomitant infusion of a selective AT 2 R antagonist, highlighting the important direct role of renal AT 2 R activation by Ang III in natriuresis. 11 In the kidney, aminopeptidase A (APA), an enzyme normally expressed on the brush border of renal proximal tubule