Fever alters osmosensitivity of hypothalamic-vasopressin system in the rat

The osmosensitivity of peripheral vasopressin release was studied during healthy thermoregulation and endotoxin-induced fever. There was an increase in osmosensitivity following bolus injection of saline in febrile rats. These animals displayed a steeper slope in the linear relationship between plasma osmolality and plasma vasopressin levels compared with afebrile animals. The change in regression slope was due to a significantly lower plasma osmolality in febrile rats. The plasma osmolality of animals infused with hypertonic saline was similarly decreased, but data analysis failed to show a significant change in the regression slope. Osmotic thresholds were not altered in either group. There was an increased urine output in febrile rats, and consequently these animals excreted greater amounts of salts than afebrile rats. This could account for the lower plasma osmolality observed in the febrile rat.