Regulation of plasma vasopressin by plasma osmolality and carotid sinus pressure in anesthetized rabbits

The purpose of the experiments was to investigate the effect of changes in carotid sinus baroreceptor stimulation on plasma vasopressin (AVP) at different plasma osmolalities in the anesthetized artificially ventilated rabbit. Both carotid sinuses were isolated and perfused with blood at servo-controlled pressures. The vagus and aortic depressor nerves were sectioned bilaterally to eliminate input from atrial and aortic arch baroreceptors. Saline (0.3%, wt/vol) was infused to lower plasma osmolality, and 5% saline was infused to raise plasma osmolality. At three plasma osmolalities, the carotid sinus pressure (CSP) was changed from 100 mmHg to 40 and 140 mmHg and returned to 100 mmHg. There were no changes in plasma AVP in response to changes in CSP at low plasma osmolality (289 mosmol/kgH2O), but at medium (309 mosmol/kgH2O) and high (323 mosmol/kgH2O) osmolality, plasma AVP was higher at 40 than at 140 mmHg CSP. The relationship between plasma AVP and plasma osmolality was expressed as a linear regression at each CSP. Changes in CSP changed the sensitivity but not the threshold of the osmotic control of AVP release.