Inhibition of VP and OT release by water in hypovolemia is independent of opioid peptides.

Overhydration inhibits release of vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) from the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system during hypovolemia. We investigated whether opioid peptides mediate the inhibitory effect of water on secretion of these hormones. Conscious male rats were made hypovolemic by hemorrhage (HEM, 0.51 ml/min) of 20 and 35% of the blood volume or by injection of either subcutaneous polyethylene glycol (PEG, 20,000 mol wt, 35 ml/kg) or intraperitoneal histamine (HIS, 15 mg/kg, 1 ml/kg). Animals were intubated orally 1-4 min (HEM, HIS) or 6.75 h (PEG) later with or without administration of water (40 ml/kg). Four to seven min after intubation rats were injected with saline (1 ml/kg) or naloxone (2 or 5 mg/kg) and then decapitated 6-10 min later. Control animals were treated similarly but were not stimulated by hypovolemia. VP and OT were extracted from plasma and quantified by radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance. In HEM animals blood pressure fell and plasma osmolality increased, both of which correlated positively with the rise in plasma [VP] and [OT]. Overhydration lowered the plasma osmolality, attenuated the fall in blood pressure, and reduced [VP] and [OT] in plasma of HEM animals. The opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone, did not alter these changes in blood pressure or plasma osmolality, or the plasma [VP] after HEM in rats treated with or without water. Plasma [OT] was, however, increased by naloxone in both normally hydrated and overhydrated rats. Thus, regardless of the hydrational state of the animal, opioid peptides inhibited release of OT but not VP during hemorrhage. Data consistent with this interpretation were also obtained from rats made hypovolemic with PEG or HIS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)