Interaction of vasopressin with area postrema during volume expansion

Effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on inhibition of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) during activation of cardiopulmonary reflexes by volume expansion were examined in conscious sinoaortic-denervated rabbits. The role of the area postrema in mediating these effects was also evaluated in rabbits subjected to area postrema lesion. Animals were subjected to 12% volume expansion with whole blood alone or during infusion of AVP (0.6 mU . kg-1 . min-1). Volume expansion in area postrema-intact animals caused a progressive reflex inhibition of RSNA (maximum = -36.5 +/- 3.3% delta RSNA). Vasopressin infusion did not significantly alter resting arterial pressure, right atrial pressure, heart rate, or RSNA. However, maximum inhibition of RSNA during volume expansion (-62.6 +/- 3.2% delta RSNA) was significantly augmented during AVP infusion, and the augmentation was reversed by a specific vascular (V1) AVP receptor antagonist. Vagotomy eliminated RSNA responses to volume expansion with or without AVP. In area postrema-lesioned animals, the RSNA response to volume expansion was similar to that of intact animals (-31.8 +/- 2.3% delta RSNA). However, AVP did not augment the RSNA response to volume expansion in lesioned animals (-30.4 +/- 2.5% delta RSNA). Thus exogenous AVP augmented cardiopulmonary reflex-mediated inhibition of RSNA due to volume expansion. This effect appeared to be mediated by the V1 AVP receptor and to require the presence of an intact area postrema.