Vasopressin, ACTH, and corticosteroids during hypercapnia and graded hypoxia in dogs

We examined the interaction of graded hypoxia and hypercapnia on stimulation of vasopressin (AVP), ACTH, and corticosteroids in nonsurgically stressed, pentobarbital-anesthetized, gallamine-paralyzed ventilated dogs. Partial pressure of O2 in arterial blood (PaO2) levels of approximately 26-29, 38-41, 54-57, and 83-88 Torr were achieved by altering the fractional concentration of O2 in dry inspired gas with a normocapnic (PaCO2, 35 Torr) and hypercapnic (PaCO2, 59 Torr) background. Normocapnic hypoxia produced a PaO2-dependent increase in AVP, ACTH, and corticosteroids. The threshold PaO2 for AVP was lower (approximately 35 Torr) than for ACTH (approximately 45 Torr). AVP, ACTH, and corticosteroids at all PaO2 levels were higher during hypercapnia. In addition, an ACTH and corticosteroid dose-response correlation estimated the threshhold ACTH to be 20-30 pg/ml. The PaO2-dependent hormone increases and the augmentation of these relationships by hypercapnia are consistent with a peripheral chemoreceptor-mediated reflex. In addition, hypoxia and hypercapnia did not seem to alter the high sensitivity of the adrenal cortex for ACTH.