In this study, we have investigated the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) on glucose uptake into astroglia cultured from adult rat hypothalamus and brain stem. ANG II (30 min to 4 h; 10(-9) to 10(-6) M) stimulated time- and concentration-dependent increases in the uptake of 2-deoxy-D-[3H]glucose into cultured astroglia. This effect of ANG II (10(-7) M) is via AT1 receptors and protein kinase C (PKC), since it was inhibited by losartan (10(-6) M) and staurosporine (10(-6) M), respectively. Furthermore, this ANG II action was inhibited by both cycloheximide (1 microgram/ml) and actinomycin D (10(-6) M), indicating that synthesis of new glucose transporters is involved. This was confirmed by the finding that ANG II (30 min to 4 h; 10(-9) to 10(-5) M) stimulated time- and concentration-dependent increases in the steady-state levels of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) mRNA in these cultures. In addition, the increase in steady-state levels of GLUT-1 mRNA elicited by ANG II was mediated by AT1 receptors and PKC. These data suggest that ANG II stimulates glucose uptake into cultured astroglia via a pathway that involves AT1 receptors, PKC, and increased steady-state levels of GLUT-1 mRNA.