Renal effects of overhydration during vasopressin infusion in conscious dogs

The antidiuretic and possibly natriuretic effects of small doses of vasopressin (AVP) were investigated in conscious dogs. Plasma composition and renal excretion of water, Na+, and K+ were measured after overhydration by 20 ml/kg performed during infusion of AVP at rates of 50, 100, 150, 200, or 400 pg X min-1 X kg body wt-1 or of 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) 50 pg X min-1 X kg body wt-1. Hydration lowered plasma osmolality and sodium concentration by 4.2 +/- 0.3 and 3.8 +/- 0.2%, respectively; plasma protein showed a larger decrease, 8.5 +/- 0.4% (P less than 0.01). Urine osmolality during hydration was 52 +/- 3 mosmol/kg H2O. AVP infusion at 100 pg X min-1 X kg-1 elevated plasma vasopressin by 1.7 +/- 0.3 pg/ml and urine osmolality by 1,049 +/- 152 mosmol/kg H2O and elicited marked natriuresis and kaliuresis but no change in osmolar clearance. During DDAVP infusion urine osmolality was 1,365 +/- 134 mosmol/kg H2O, but electrolyte excretion was indistinguishable from control. It is concluded that 1) AVP is associated with marked natriuresis and kaliuresis even in doses required to prevent water diuresis, 2) DDAVP--although strongly antidiuretic--does not affect electrolyte excretion, and 3) the water load causes disproportionate dilution of plasma protein and osmolality, probably due to protein redistribution.