Effects on intravascular pressures of vasopressin and angiotensin II in dogs

The effects of 30-min intravenous infusions of 8-arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin-(1,8)-octapeptide (ANG II) to conscious dogs were studied by measurements of systolic (SABP), mean (MABP), and diastolic arterial blood pressures, central venous pressure (CVP), heart rate (HR), and plasma concentrations of vasopressin (pAVP). Infusion of AVP at six rates (0.4-12.8 ng X min-1 X kg-1) raised mean pAVP by 5-490 pg/ml and increased CVP by 2-10 cmH2O. HR decreased and arterial pressures increased with infusion rates of 1.6-12.8 ng X min-1 X kg-1. However, the increase in SABP was only transient. ANG II increased all arterial pressures; however, it barely changed CVP and did not change HR or pAVP. It is concluded that 1) AVP can elevate MABP without changes in SABP, 2) the effects of AVP on arterial pressures are buffered within 5-15 min, 3) CVP can be increased by doses of AVP that do not affect arterial pressures, and 4) the pressor activity is independent of the presence of ANG II. The results confirm that the cardiovascular response to vasopressin is qualitatively different from that elicited by ANG II.