Prevention of arginine-vasopressin-induced motor disturbances by a potent vasopressor antagonist.

The antivasopressor analog d(CH2)5Tyr(Me) arginine-vasopressin completely blocked the convulsive-like behavior and other severe motor disturbances which are normally observed following a second central arginine-vasopressin injection. This vasopressor antagonist appears to be selective for arginine-vasopressin-induced motor disturbances, in that the convulsive and motor effects of pentylenetetrazol and somatostatin were not altered significantly by pretreatment with the central antagonist. Results suggest that arginine-vasopressin-induced motor disturbances are mediated via central receptors. The classic antidiuretic (V2) type of arginine-vasopressin receptor does not appear to be involved, since the agonist 1-desamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin did not elicit convulsive-like behavior or other severe motor disturbances 2 days following a first ('priming') injection of arginine-vasopressin.