Abstract
In addition to its peripheral endocrine actions, arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been implicated in the central control of blood pressure. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections (0.01–1.0 nmol) of AVP or arginine vasotocin (AVT), but no oxytocin (OXY), into unanesthetized rabbits caused a rapid, dose related rise in blood pressure as well as increases in heart rate. The lowest centrally administered dose of AVP and AVT (0.01 nmo1) had no effect on blood pressure when given intravenously. In search of tissue locus for the pressor effect of AVP microinjection of AVP and OXY into the posterior hypothalamus and septum of conscious rabbits was without effect. However, microinjection (0.01–0.04 nmol) of AVP into the nucleus tractus solitarius of anesthetized rabbits caused a rise in blood pressure similar to the response seen after i.c.v. injection. Comparable volumes of the vehicle into the ventricle or the tissue sites had no effect on resting blood pressure. The pressor response after AVP given i.c.v. was significantly reduced up to 3 h after administration of the ganglionic blocker, chlorisondamine HCl. The central antagonist, d(CH 2) 5Tyr (Me) vasopressin, eliminated the usual increase in blood pressure after administration of AVP in half the animals tested. The results indicate that AVP acts centrally to mediate cardiovascular responses in unanesthetized as well as anesthetized rabbits.
Published Version
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