EFFECTS OF ANGIOTENSIN II ON ARGININE-VASOPRESSIN IN PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL SITUATIONS IN MAN

Abstract

Studies were designed to determine whether angiotensin II has a direct stimulatory effect on arginine-vasopressin in man and to determine the role, if any, played by angiotensin II in the control of vasopressin release in physiological and pathological conditions. Acute infusion of angiotensin II in normal volunteers produced small but definite increases in plasma levels of arginine-vasopressin (5·4 ± 0·3 (s.e.m.) to 6·4 ± 0·2 pg/ml) only when plasma angiotensin II levels were supraphysiological. Concurrent measurements of plasma arginine-vasopressin and angiotensin II were made during acute changes in fluid balance and posture in normal volunteers and in clinical conditions characterized by high plasma levels of angiotensin II (Addison's disease and Bartter's syndrome). The results of these studies allow us to conclude that there is little to suggest a direct effect of angiotensin II which is likely to be relevant to the normal physiological control of arginine-vasopressin in man.