Effects of vasopressin on the response to carotid occlusion in conscious rabbits

To investigate the interaction between arginine vasopressin and the carotid sinus baroreflex, hemodynamic responses to bilateral carotid occlusion and to controlled reductions in carotid sinus pressure were examined. In the control state and during vasopressin infusion in conscious rabbits, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, mean aortic flow and total peripheral resistance were measured. Vasopressin infusion at 5 or 10 ng/kg/min did not raise arterial pressure, but increased resistance, and decreased heart rate and aortic flow in a dose-dependent manner. The pressure and resistance responses to carotid occlusion or changes in carotid pressure were not altered by vasopressin. The heart rate response was augmented significantly from 23 +/- 5 (mean +/- S.E.) to 40 +/- 8 and 43 +/- 8 beats/min with infusion of 5 and 10 ng/kg/min of vasopressin. Vasopressin did not augment the gain of carotid sinus reflex control of arterial pressure (3.7 +/- 0.5 in control and 3.5 +/- 0.5 during 5 ng/kg/min of vasopressin). With vasopressin infusion at 5 ng/kg/min, following vagal blockade with methylatropine both the arterial pressure and the heart rate responses to carotid pressure changes decreased to 73% and 32% of the response before blockade. The data indicate that vasopressin has little effect on control of arterial pressure by the carotid sinus baroreflex in conscious rabbits when vagal responses are activated.