Hypervolemia and plasma vasopressin response during water immersion in men

To investigate changes in plasma volume (PV) and osmolality as stimuli for plasma vasopressin (PVP) suppression and diuresis, seven normal healthy men (22-48 yr) were immersed to the neck for 4 h in a sitting position in tap water (34.5 degrees C) after overnight food and fluid restriction. Mean +/- SE urine volume was 823 +/- 123 ml/4 h; fluid intake was 400 ml/4 h, and mean negative water balance was 944 ml/4 h. Urinary sodium excretion increased from 0.77 to 1.25 mosmol/min (P less than 0.05) and UNaV from 0.14 to 0.37 meq/min (P less than 0.05). During immersion, PV (T-1824) increased by 8.8% (P less than 0.05) during the first 30 min and declined linearly thereafter. Mean +/- SD serum osmolality (294 +/- 1.2 mosmol/kg H2O) and sodium (143.2 +/- 0.4 meq/l) were constant throughout immersion; PVP (2.3 +/- 0.5 pg/ml) and plasma renin activity [0.3 +/- 0.2 ng ANG I/(ml X h]) were not significantly changed. Thus, the composition of the fluid entering the vascular space maintained constant serum osmolality and PVP throughout immersion. These findings do not support the hypothesis that acute expansion of central volume and PV cause suppression of PVP. The results suggest a mechanism other than or in addition to PVP suppression as a contributory cause of the immersion diuresis.