Effect of 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) on vasopressin release and blood pressure during hemorrhage.

Whether or not 1-desamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin (DDAVP) reduces blood pressure or affects the release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and renin is controversial, although evidence suggests AVP and renin are important in maintaining blood pressure during hemorrhage. We therefore investigated the effect of DDAVP on endogenous release of AVP and renin and on blood pressure during hemorrhage in dogs. In the control group the hemorrhage was performed at a rate of 0.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 for 40 min from the femoral artery. The plasma AVP concentration and renin activity (PRA) increased progressively in response to the hemorrhage, from 7.5 +/- 0.5 to 40.3 +/- 7.3 pg.ml-1, and from 11.8 +/- 1.5 to 20.5 +/- 4.2 ng.ml-1.h-1, respectively, while blood pressure decreased slightly. In the DDAVP group, intravenous infusion of DDAVP (2.5 ng.kg-1.min-1 for 40 min) and hemorrhage were simultaneously performed. The plasma DDAVP concentration increased progressively to 218 +/- 21.0 pg.ml-1. There was no significant difference, however, between the control and DDAVP groups in the response of AVP, PRA and blood pressure. The results suggested that DDAVP may not affect the release of AVP and renin or blood pressure during hemorrhage.