Methionine-enkephalin and vasopressin in SHR: effects of dehydration

Enkephalins are found in the posterior pituitary, can alter vasopressin secretion, and have greater pressor effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Measurement of the plasma methionine-enkephalin concentration (PMet-Enk) has provided equivocal results in humans and has not been reported in rats. We have developed a highly specific and sensitive Met-Enk radioimmunoassay and determined that Met-Enk circulates in rats but that PMet-Enk is no different between SHR and WKY rats (7.6 +/- 0.8 and 9.2 +/- 0.8 pg/ml, respectively). Water deprivation for 48 h increased the plasma vasopressin concentration (PADH) and 24-h urinary vasopressin excretion (UADHV) in SHR and WKY rats, but PMet-Enk was not altered. There were no differences in PADH and UADHV between SHR and WKY rats in either the euhydrated or dehydrated state. These results suggest that it is unlikely that circulating Met-Enk contributes importantly to the maintenance of hypertension in SHR. There was also no evidence for a greater secretion of vasopressin in SHR than in WKY rats, in contrast to previous reports.