Physiological saline solution was infused in nine normal subjects and six patients with central diabetes insipidus (DI). At 120 min after the start of infusion, arginine vasopressin (AVP) was injected intramuscularly. Urine was collected in 30 min fractions before and after AVP administration. 2. The urinary excretions of kallikrein-like activity (KAL-A) (S-2266 hydrolysis activity) and immunoreactive kinins (i-kinins) were significantly lower in patients with DI than in normal subjects before AVP administration, while there were no differences in plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone concentration, creatinine clearance and blood pressure between the two groups, except for a marked water diuresis in patients with DI. The urinary excretion of KAL-A and i-kinins correlated positively with the urinary excretion of AVP. 3. AVP administration increased both plasma AVP and urinary excretion of AVP to similar levels in both groups. As a result, urine volume decreased to a greater degree in patients with DI than in normal subjects. In contrast, the urinary excretions of KAL-A and i-kinins were increased by AVP administration, with a greater response in normal subjects than in the patients with DI. 4. After overnight fasting, acute water loading was carried out orally for 15 min in six normal subjects. At 30 min plasma AVP was suppressed by water loading to almost the basal level found in patients with DI. Urinary excretions of KAL-A and i-kinins in the first 30 min fraction after loading were also suppressed to the basal level in patients with DI. Later, the urinary excretion of KAL-A increased together with the increase in urine flow. Urine volume and free water clearance markedly increased except in the first 30 min fraction, compared with the control period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
