Chlorpropamide effect: measurement of neurophysin and vasopressin in humans and rats.

The effect of chlorpropamide on neurohypophyseal function was studied by measurement of neurophysin and vasopressin in humans and in rats. Administration of chlorpropamide was shown to inhibit the ability of the human subjects and of the rats to maximally dilute their urine after administration of water. Comparison of the levels of vasopressin and neurophysin before and after the administration of chlorpropamide in the basal state and after water loading in both the human subjects and in rats showed no lack of suppression due to the chlorpropamide. The levels of both peptides were measured at the limits of detection. In other studies where neurophysin and vasopressin were readily detected, administration of chlorpropamide did not result in any augmented release of neurophysin or vasopressin in response to stimulation of the neurohypophysis in humans nor in rats. Levels of neurophysin in the pituitaries of rats showed no change in rats given chlorpropamide, while the content of vasopressin was increased, possibly indicating a chronic decreased secretion of vasopressin in rats given chlorpropamide.