Osmoregulation and renal effects of vasopressin in normal and mildly hypertensive subjects

A 2-hr 0.85 M hypertonic saline infusion was administered to ten normotensive volunteers and ten mildly hypertensive subjects to compare in these two groups the osmoregulation of vasopressin and the effect of this hormone on BP. No significant alteration in BP was observed in either group, despite markedly enhanced vasopressin levels. Significant positive correlations between plasma vasopressin (AVP) and plasma osmolality (POsm) were demonstrated in the controls (AVP = -70 + 0.25 POsm, r = 0.68, P less than 0.0001) and in the hypertensive group (AVP = -46 + 0.16 POsm, r = 0.59, P less than 0.0001). However, the vasopressin response to the osmotic stimulus was buffered in the hypertensive subjects; the slope of the regression line between plasma vasopressin and plasma osmolality was less steep in hypertensive subjects than in normotensive subjects (0.16 vs. 0.25, P less than 0.018). During the saline infusion the renal parameters were identical in the two groups. Finally, in mild hypertension, the osmoregulation of vasopressin was preserved but buffered and renal sensitivity to this hormone was normal. An osmotically induced physiological increase in vasopressin did not raise BP in either normotensive or mildly hypertensive subjects.