[Role of vasopressin in arterial hypertension]

On isolated arteriole preparations vasopressin behaves as an extremely potent vasoconstrictor. In healthy animals and man its pressor effect is counteracted by several compensatory mechanisms, including stimulation of the baroreceptor reflex with reduction of sympathetic activity, decrease in renin secretion, sodium loss and reduction of vascular response to vasopressor agents. Alterations of these mechanisms unmask the hypertensive effect of vasopressin as shown by several experimental hypertension models in animals. In human pathology vasopressin has been shown to be a good indicator of the severity pf arterial hypertension, but its role in that disease will only be determined when vascular antagonists of vasopressin devoid of paryial agonistic activity become available.