Inhibitory role of periventricular dopaminergic mechanisms in hemorrhage-induced vasopressin secretion in conscious rats.

Acute blood loss (16 ml/kg b. wt.) in conscious rats caused, 5 min later, increases in plasma vasopressin (AVP) concentration accompanied by reductions in arterial pressure and hematocrit. The plasma AVP response was markedly enhanced by intracerebroventricular injection (10 microliters) of a dopamine antagonist, haloperidol (0.15 mumol), which did not affect the responses of arterial pressure and hematocrit significantly. These results suggest that periventricular dopaminergic mechanisms may act to inhibit hemorrhage-induced AVP secretion.