Effects of fentanyl on vasopressin secretion in human subjects

To test the influence of an opioid on vasopressin (AVP) secretion, plasma AVP concentration was measured in five semirecumbent unmedicated volunteers before and during two continuous i.v. infusions of fentanyl. Infusion rates were adjusted to produce steady-state plasma fentanyl concentrations of 2.0 +/- 0.4 and 4.1 +/- 0.6 ng/ml; mild to moderate hypercarbia was induced during the control and infusion periods. Fentanyl increased plasma AVP concentration in a dose-dependent manner to 559 +/- 215 and 929 +/- 199% of the basal level of 1.9 +/- 0.7 pg/ml. Neither mild hypercarbia (PCO2 = 50 +/- 1 mm Hg) in the absence of fentanyl nor moderate hypercarbia (PCO2 = 66 +/- 3 mm Hg) in the presence of fentanyl changed plasma AVP concentration. Neither fentanyl nor hypercarbia, nor the combination of the two, altered plasma renin activity.