An investigation into the influence of vasopressin on perfusion of the cortex and papilla of the rat kidney.

An investigation was undertaken to examine the effects of vasopressin on blood pressure and perfusion of the cortical and papillary regions of the kidney, and to determine the receptor subtype involved. Pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rats were used and laser-Doppler flowmetry applied to measure regional renal haemodynamics. Infusion of vasopressin at 10, 20 and 40 mU kg-1 min-1 caused dose-related increases in blood pressure and reductions in cortical and papillary perfusion of approximately 21, 35 and 41%, respectively at the highest dose. Administration of the V1-receptor antagonist, [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid), 2-(o-methyl)tyrosine]-Arg8-vasopressin, at 1 microgram kg-1 plus 5 micrograms kg-1 h-1 or four times this dose had no effect on the basal levels of any variable. Vasopressin administration during the low dose of antagonist increased blood pressure and reduced papillary perfusion, the magnitudes of which were only slightly less than those obtained in the absence of the drug, whereas there was a significant attenuation of the response in cortical perfusion. During infusion of the V1 antagonist at 4 micrograms kg-1 plus 20 micrograms kg-1 h-1, vasopressin had no effect on either blood pressure or renal haemodynamics. Infusion of the V2 antagonist, [d(CH2)5, D-Phe2, Ile4, Arg8, Ala9-NH2]-vasopressin at 1 microgram kg-1 plus 5 micrograms kg-1 h-1, and twice this dose had no effect on the basal value of any variable and had no effect on the ability of vasopressin to induce an increase in blood pressure or cause reductions in renal cortical and papillary perfusions. However, the administration of the V2 antagonist at 4 micrograms kg-1 plus 20 micrograms kg-1 h-1 significantly attenuated blood pressure, cortical and papillary perfusion responses to the vasopressin. These studies have shown that vasopressin, given at doses which increased blood pressure, caused dose-related decreases in perfusion of renal cortex as well as the papilla. The data further show that these systemic and renal actions were mediated primarily by V1-receptors and that the contribution of V2-receptors at these vascular beds was very small.