Plasma vasopressin in blood pressure homeostasis and in experimental renal hypertension

The role of vasopressin in blood pressure control and in the pathogenesis of one-kidney Goldblatt hypertension was investigated in the conscious dog. Intravenous infusion of synthetic arginine vasopressin to elevate plasma levels approximately fivefold to 31 pg/ml caused bradycardia in normal dogs, together with suppression of plasma renin activity and angiotensin II. This plasma level of vasopressin also caused elevation of mean arterial blood pressure in dogs with pharmacological total autonomic blockade. A similar degree of elevation of plasma vasopressin concentration was observed following mild nonhypotensive hemorrhage; more severe hemorrhage resulted in an approximate 100-fold increase in plasma vasopressin levels. Severe renal artery constriction in unilaterally nephrectomized dogs caused a marked rise in mean arterial blood pressure, but only a doubling of plasma vasopressin concentration. A suppressor infusion of vasopressin did not potentiate the pressor response to infused angiotensin II. It is concluded that vasopressin may play a role in normal cardiovascular homeostatic responses, but it is unlikely to have a significant direct vasoconstrictor role in the pathogenesis of this form of experimental renal hypertension.