Pg Min-1 Research Articles

Effects of receptor blockade on metabolism and renal actions of vasopressin in conscious dogs.

Vasopressin--but not the V2 receptor agonist [deamino-cis1,D-Arg8]-vasopressin (dDAVP)--may mediate natriuresis in dogs. The present study investigated this phenomenon by use of nonpeptide antagonists to V1a and V2 receptors 1-¿1-[4-(3-acetylaminopropoxy)benzoyl]-4-piperidyl¿-3,4-dihydro-2 (1H)-quinolinone (OPC-21268) and 5-dimethylamino-1-¿4-(2-methylbenzoylamino)-benzoyl¿-2,3,4,5-tetra hydro-1 H-benzazepine (OPC-31260), respectively) hypothesising that only V1a inhibition would reduce the natriuresis. In conscious dogs vasopressin secretion was suppressed by water loading (2% body weight) and replaced by infusion of vasopressin (50 pg min-1 kg-1) resulting in physiological plasma concentrations (plasma levels of AVP (pAVP) = 2.0 +/- 0.1 pg mL-1). In this setting, OPC-21268 did not change the rate of sodium excretion. OPC-31260 increased water excretion 12-fold without significant changes in sodium excretion. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, and clearance of endogenous Li+ were unchanged. During vasopressin infusion, both antagonists increased pAVP, OPC-21268 by 20% and OPC-31260 by 100% (2.0 +/- 0.2-4.0 +/- 0.3 pg mL-1). In the absence of vasopressin infusion, OPC-31260 did not increase pAVP. Thus, the increase in pAVP appeared to be due to a decrease in metabolic clearance rate. The results indicate that the present dose of V1a receptor inhibitor OPC-21268 does not reduce sodium excretion and that both vasopressin antagonists inhibit vasopressin metabolism.

Regulation of prostaglandin production by nitric oxide; an in vivo analysis.

1. Endotoxin E. Coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treatment in conscious, restrained rats increased plasma and urinary prostaglandin (PG) and nitric oxide (NO) production. Inducible cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression accounted for the LPS-induced PG and NO release since the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone inhibited both effects. Thus, LPS (4 mg kg-1) increased the plasma levels of nitrite/nitrate from 14 +/- 1 to 84 +/- 7 microM within 3 h and this rise was inhibited to 35 +/- 1 microM by dexamethasone. Levels of 6-keto PGF1 alpha in the plasma were below the detection limit of the assay (< 0.2 ng ml-1). However, 3 h after the injection of LPS these levels rose to 2.6 +/- 0.2 ng ml-1 and to 0.7 +/- 0.01 ng ml-1 after LPS in rats that received dexamethasone. 2. The induced enzymes were inhibited in vivo with selective COX and NOS inhibitors. Furthermore, NOS inhibitors, that did not affect COX activity in vitro markedly suppressed PG production in the LPS-treated animals. For instance, the LPS-induced increased in plasma nitrite/nitrate and 6-keto PGF1 alpha at 3 h was decreased to 18 +/- 2 microM and 0.5 +/- 0.02 ng ml-1, 23 +/- 1 microM and 0.7 +/- 0.01 ng ml-1, 29 +/- 2 microM and 1 +/- 0.01 ng ml-1 in rats treated with LPS in the presence of the NOS inhibitors NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, NG-nitro arginine methyl ester and aminoguanidine, respectively. 3. The intravenous infusion of the NO donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)increased prostaglandin production in normal animals (for instance urinary PGE2 excretion was increased from 96 +/- 10 to 576 +/- 12 pg min-1 and 400 +/- 24 pg min-1 in the presence of GTN or SNP respectively).4. Proteinuria was measured in order to evaluate the roles of NO and PG in renal damage associated with the in vivo injection of LPS. Interestingly, dexamethasone and the NOS inhibitors attenuated proteinuria in the LPS-treated rats. The COX inhibitors had no effect. It therefore appears that NO and not PG contributes to the LPS-induced renal damage; these findings support the potential use of NOS inhibitors in the treatment of renal inflammation.5. This study demonstrates the regulatory contribution of NO on the in vivo production of prostanoids and suggests that in inflammatory diseases that are driven by both NO and the prostaglandins, NOS inhibitors may act to reduce inflammation by the dual inhibition of cytotoxic NO and pro-inflammatory PG.

In vivo microdialysis of noradrenaline overflow: effects of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists measured by cumulative concentration-response curves.

1. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of several alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on cerebral cortical overflow of endogenous noradrenaline (NA) in freely moving rats. One or two days after the implantation of transcerebral dialysis tubes in the frontoparietal cortex, extracellular NA levels were monitored on-line with high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. The drugs were applied locally via the dialysis membrane, and effects on NA overflow were determined in cumulative concentration-response curves. 2. The average basal cortical NA overflow of all experiments was 0.25 pg min-1. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists caused a concentration-dependent decrease in NA levels. UK-14,304 was the most potent and B-HT 933 the least potent agonist. The maximal decrease in NA overflow was to 10-15% of control levels after UK-14,304 or moxonidine, to 30% after clonidine and to 50% after B-HT 933 administration. Continuous activation of the presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptor with 10(-6) M UK-14,304 caused a decrease in NA levels to 40-50% of basal levels. This decrease was reached within 1 h and remained stable for the entire 3 h measurement period. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists, phenylephrine and methoxamine, induced an increase in NA levels to 225% and 300%, respectively, at a concentration of 10(-3) M. 3. Local application of alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists caused an increase in NA levels, with idazoxan being more potent than piperoxan. Yohimbine did not cause any significant change. 4. All drugs used in these in vivo experiments had in vitro recoveries across the dialysis membrane between 10 and 20%. 5. We conclude that microdialysis with local drug application is suitable for the comparison of the pharmacological effects of drugs with affinity for alpha-adrenoceptors on cortical NA overflow in vivo,provided that the passage across the membrane is equal for the different drugs.

Vasopressin and angiotensin II in the conscious dog: synergistic effects on renal excretory parameters?

1. The renal effects of angiotensin II were investigated (a) with and without acute blockade of the effects of aldosterone and (b) with and without concomitant infusion of vasopressin. Angiotensin II (2 ng min-1 kg-1) and/or vasopressin (5 pg min-1 kg-1) was infused intravenously into conscious water-diuretic dogs and the effects were quantified by measurements of renal excretion of water, Na+ and K+, as well as determination of plasma renin activity and plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and catecholamines. 2. Angiotensin II alone increased blood pressure by 7% (P < 0.05), decreased effective renal blood flow markedly and reduced urine flow and osmolar and free water clearances. Na+ and K+ excretion did not change significantly. Aldosterone blockade with canrenoate increased Na+ excretion by a factor of 10; subsequent infusion of angiotensin II decreased Na+ excretion by about 50%, the other renal effects being qualitatively similar to those seen without blockade. As expected, vasopressin also decreased diuresis and free water clearance substantially; however, the effect of combined infusion of angiotensin II and vasopressin was not compatible with the notion of additive effects of the two peptides. 3. Angiotensin II alone or in combination with vasopressin did not change the plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide, adrenaline, noradrenaline, or dopamine. Vasopressin alone exerted its antidiuretic effect without affecting plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone concentration or renal excretion of Na+ and K+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lithium clearance in dogs: effects of water loading, amiloride and lithium dosage.

1. The influences of lithium dosage, urine flow rate and acute administration of amiloride on the renal handling of lithium in normal conscious dogs were investigated. 2. Lithium was administered in the diet at daily doses of 100 mg or 2 mg of lithium carbonate for the 2 days preceding the investigation. Urine flow rate was altered by water loading with and without arginine vasopressin infusion (5 pg min-1 kg-1). Amiloride was administered as an intravenous bolus (130 micrograms/kg) followed by a continuous infusion (1.22 micrograms h-1 kg-1). 3. Glomerular filtration rate (exogenous creatinine clearance) did not change within series and was not different between series; it averaged 3.27 ml min-1 kg-1. Control levels of fractional lithium excretion (12.4 +/- 1.2%, mean +/- SEM) were not influenced by hydration, hydration plus arginine vasopressin administration or the lithium dosage. However, in hydrated dogs having a plasma lithium concentration of 130-140 mumol/l, amiloride administration was associated with a 5% increase in fractional lithium excretion (P less than or equal to 0.01). 4. It is concluded that distal tubular lithium reabsorption may take place in sodium-replete conscious dogs undergoing water diuresis. The low fractional lithium excretion even during amiloride infusion (14.1-16.8%) may well be due to a high fractional reabsorption of lithium in the proximal tubules; however, a significant reabsorption of lithium distal to the proximal straight tubules by amiloride-insensitive pathways cannot be excluded.

Intracerebroventricular infusion but not bolus injection of vasopressin increases the cerebrospinal fluid pressure in awake rabbits

The effect of intracerebroventricular infusion or injection of arginine vasopressin (AVP) was examined in awake rabbits with permanent ventricular cannulae. Intracerebroventricular infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 43 microliters min-1 containing AVP concentrations exceeding 0.4 ng ml-1, equivalent to an AVP infusion rate of 17.2 pg min-1, caused a dose-dependent increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) of 3 to 5 mmHg after 30-50 min of AVP infusion. Intracerebroventricular bolus injection of equivalent doses of AVP did not provoke changes in ICP. At the end of the experiments cisternal CSF concentrations of AVP were higher after infusion of AVP than after injection of the same amount of AVP. The mean arterial blood pressure increased slightly in the group of animals infused with AVP at rates above 17.2 pg min-1. It is concluded that intracerebroventricular infusion of AVP increases ICP in awake rabbits but the mechanism responsible for the elevation of ICP remains speculative.

Evidence Against a Role for Prostaglandins in Sustaining Renal Hyperfiltration in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The acute effect of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin 50 mg by mouth on renal haemodynamics has been examined in 8 male Type 1 diabetic patients with elevated glomerular filtration rate who were free of diabetic complications. Renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate were measured by constant infusion of para-amino hippurate and polyfructosan, the patients being studied at normoglycaemia. Urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 fell from 885 +/- 160 to 345 +/- 115 pg min-1, and excretion of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha fell from 489 +/- 77 to 283 +/- 50 pg min-1. There was no change in renal plasma flow or glomerular filtration rate following indomethacin. The results do not support the hypothesis that increased renal prostaglandin synthesis is a cause of hyperfiltration in diabetes mellitus.

Adrenal responses to calcitonin gene‐related peptide in conscious hypophysectomized calves.

1. Right adrenal and various cardiovascular responses to an intra-aortic infusion of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP; 4 micrograms min-1) have been investigated in the presence and absence of exogenous adrenocorticotrophin ACTH1-24 (2 or 5 ng min-1 kg-1, I.V.). The adrenal clamp technique was employed in conscious calves in which the pituitary stalk had been cauterized 3-7 days previously. 2. At the higher dose (5 ng min-1 kg-1) the I.V. infusion of ACTH raised mean plasma ACTH concentration by about 1000 pg ml-1 and mean right adrenal cortisol output by about 750 ng min-1 kg-1. Under these conditions the intra-aortic infusion of CGRP had no apparent effect on adrenal cortisol output by about 750 ng min-1 kg-1. Under these conditions the intra-aortic infusion of CGRP had no apparent effect on adrenal function, other than to produce moderate adrenal vasodilatation. In contrast, in the absence of exogenous ACTH, the same dose of CGRP produced a substantial rise in cortisol output, which rose steadily to a peak mean value of 409 +/- 31 pg min-1 kg-1 at 10 min. It also significantly inhibited the release of free, but not of total, met5-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity from the gland (P less than 0.001) together with a significantly greater fall in adrenal vascular resistance (P less than 0.001). 3. At the lower dose of ACTH (2 ng min-1 kg-1, I.V.) CGRP raised mean plasma cortisol output from 314 +/- 31 to 486 +/- 44 ng min-1 kg-1 (P less than 0.01) and this effect was not attributable to an increase in the adrenal presentation rate of ACTH. 4. It is concluded that this peptide exerts a steroidogenic action on the adrenal cortex which is manifest in the absence of exogenous ACTH in the functionally hypophysectomized calf.

Renal haemodynamics during hyperchloraemia in the anaesthetized dog: effects of captopril.

1. An increase in plasma chloride concentration (PC1) decreases renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and inhibits the intrarenal release of renin and angiotensin II (AII). Captopril was administered to indomethacin-treated dogs to assess the role of AII independent of prostaglandins (PGs) in the haemodynamic response to hyperchloraemia. Studies were performed on kidneys that were denervated by autotransplantation. 2. Anaesthetized greyhounds received an intrarenal infusion of 0.616 M-sodium acetate, which was changed to 0.616 M-NaCl (hyperchloraemia). These infusions increased the plasma sodium and osmolality at the experimental kidney by 7-11% throughout but increased the PCl during the hypertonic NaCl infusions only (122 +/- 3 to 136 +/- 3 mM). 3. In vehicle-treated dogs (n = 8), hyperchloraemia reduced the GFR (1.4 +/- 0.1 to 1.0 +/- 0.1 ml min-1 kg-1; P less than 0.05) and the RBF (13.0 +/- 1.4 to 8.3 +/- 0.6 ml min-1 kg-1; P less than 0.01); these changes were reversible on return to the 0.616 M-sodium acetate infusion. Hyperchloraemia reduced the release of AII into renal lymph (2.5 +/- 0.9 to 1.2 +/- 0.4 pg min-1 kg-1; P less than 0.01). 4. Indomethacin (0.6 mg kg-1 and 0.2 mg kg-1 h-1 intrarenally; n = 4) blunted (P less than 0.05) the Cl--induced fall in RBF (10.4 +/- 1.1 to 8.2 +/- 0.6 ml min-1 kg-1) without changing significantly the fall in GFR or the release of AII into renal lymph.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Disturbed relationship between urinary prostaglandin E2 excretion, plasma arginine vasopressin and renal water excretion after oral water loading in early hepatic cirrhosis.

An oral water load of 20 ml kg-1 body weight was given to 11 patients with early hepatic cirrhosis and to 16 healthy control subjects. Urinary output (V), free water clearance (CH2O), urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), and plasma concentration of arginine vasopressin (AVP) were determined before and during the first 4 h after loading. During basal conditions, PGE2 excretion was the same in patients (75 pg min-1, median, range 15-569) and controls (78 pg min-1, range 22-262), but during the first hour after water loading, PGE2 increased to a significantly higher level in cirrhotic patients (423 pg min-1, median) than in control subjects (162 pg min-1) (P less than 0.05). No difference in PGF2 alpha excretion was found between the two groups. Urinary output and CH2O were significantly lower after water loading in patients than in controls. Arginine vasopressin before water loading did not differ between patients and control subjects, but after loading it was unchanged in the patients, whereas a significant reduction (1.9 to 1.4 pmol l-1, P less than 0.01) was found in the control subjects. In controls, but not in patients, PGE2 was significantly positively correlated to V and CH2O, and negatively correlated to AVP after water loading. Thus, renal PGE2 excretion is increased and CH2O is decreased after water loading in patients with early hepatic cirrhosis, and a disturbed relationship seems to exist between PGE2 on the one hand, and AVP and renal water excretion, on the other, in these patients after water loading.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of pancreatic noradrenaline infusion on basal and stimulated islet hormone secretion in the dog.

We investigated the direct pancreatic effects of noradrenaline in vivo on the secretion of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin from the in situ pancreas in halothane-anaesthetized dogs. Noradrenaline was infused into the superior pancreatic artery at 12 ng min-1, a rate that did not alter systemic glucose or noradrenaline levels nor heart rate or blood pressure. This pancreatic infusion of noradrenaline did not affect the basal pancreatic output of insulin, yet did markedly inhibit arginine-stimulated insulin secretion. The acute insulin response (AIR) to an intravenous injection of arginine (2.5 g), which was 4293 +/- 1260 microM min-1 under control conditions, was reduced to 1054 +/- 396 microU min-1 by noradrenaline (P less than 0.01). Noradrenaline increased basal pancreatic glucagon output from 321 +/- 130 pg min-1 to 876 +/- 309 pg min-1 after 20 min of infusion (P less than 0.05) and the acute glucagon response (AGR) to arginine, being 1033 +/- 203 pg min-1 under control conditions and 1746 +/- 249 pg min-1 during noradrenaline infusion (P less than 0.05). The basal output of somatostatin did not change during noradrenaline infusion, but arginine-stimulated somatostatin secretion was impaired. The acute somatostatin response (ASLIR) to arginine was 473 +/- 124 fmol min-1 under control conditions and was decreased to 140 +/- 80 fmol min-1 by noradrenaline (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of intra-arterial arginine-vasopressin infusions on peripheral blood flows in conscious dogs.

We reported in an earlier study that intravenous infusions of arginine-vasopressin (AVP), 220 pg min-1 kg-1 for 1 h, substantially reduced blood flow to the skin, skeletal muscle, pancreas, colon, small intestine, abdominal fat and myocardium in conscious dogs. In the present study, we infused AVP directly into the artery supplying these organs and tissues in order to determine the relative contribution of local versus systemic mechanisms in the vascular resistance changes previously observed. Regional blood flows were measured with radioactive microspheres in conscious, chronically instrumented dogs before and during intra-arterial infusions of AVP administered into the left axillary artery (n = 6), the left coronary artery (n = 6), and the cranial mesenteric artery (n = 6). The infusion rates were calculated to increase local, target organ plasma concentrations of AVP to the levels reached in our previous study while minimizing systemic changes. Left axillary AVP artery infusion significantly reduced skin and compact bone blood flow, but had no effect on skeletal muscle blood flow. Intracoronary AVP infusion had no effect on myocardial blood flow nor on cardiac output. Intramesenteric AVP infusion had no effect on blood flow to the colon, small intestine and abdominal fat, but significantly reduced blood flow to those areas of the pancreas which received blood from the cannulated artery. Measurements in a limited number of dogs indicated that the local axillary and mesenteric venous levels of AVP were similar when the hormone was infused systemically at a rate of 220 pg min-1 kg-1 or intra-arterially at a lower rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Frusemide releases renin in the rat kidney when prostacyclin synthesis is suppressed

The effect of inhibiting prostaglandin (PG) synthesis on basal and frusemide-stimulated renin secretion was examined in the rat isolated perfused kidney. The stable PGI2 derivative, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, was measured by radioimmunoassay in urine collected from the kidney. Treatment of rats with indomethacin (3.0 mg kg-1) reduced 6-keto PGF1 alpha excretion from 121.3 +/- 39.1 (n = 9) to 15.5 +/- 6.6 (n = 9) pg min-1 (P less than 0.02) but had no effect on basal renin secretion. Renal perfusion pressure, flow rate and vascular resistance were similar in treated and control rats. Mean urine flow was lower after treatment. Infusion of frusemide (250 micrograms min-1) did not alter 6-keto PGF1 alpha excretion in control or indomethacin-treated (P greater than 0.05) rats. Although renin secretion was increased during frusemide infusion, there was no significant difference between control (1,806 +/- 384 ng angiotensin I (AI) min-1) and treated (2,310 +/- 554 ng AI min-1) rats (P greater than 0.05). Propranolol, at a dose (8 micrograms min-1) which suppressed renin secretion after isoprenaline stimulation, had no effect on the response to frusemide in indomethacin-treated rats. These results demonstrate that frusemide-stimulated renin secretion in the rat kidney does not require intact renal PGI2 synthesis and is independent of beta-adrenergic mechanisms.

Role of vasopressin in regulation of renal kinin excretion in Long-Evans and diabetes insipidus rats.

To study the relationship between vasopressin and the renal kallikrein-kinin system we measured the rate of excretion of kinins into the urine of anesthetized rats during conditions of increased and decreased vasopressin level. The excretion of immunoreactive kinins in Brattleboro rats with hereditary diabetes insipidus (DI) (24 +/- 3 pg min-1 kg-1) was lower than in the control Long Evans (LE) rats (182 +/- 22 pg min-1 kg-1; P less than 0.05). The DI rats also exhibited negligible urinary excretion of immunoreactive vasopressin, reduced urine osmolality, and increased urine flow and kininogenase excretion. In LE rats, volume expansion by infusion of 0.45% NaCl-2.5% dextrose to lower vasopressin secretion reduced (P less than 0.05) kinin excretion, vasopressin excretion, and urine osmolality to 41, 26, and 15% of their respective control values, while increasing (P less than 0.05) urine flow and kininogenase excretion. On the other hand, the infusion of 5% NaCl, which promotes vasopressin secretion, increased (P less than 0.05) the urinary excretion of kinins and vasopressin to 165 and 396% of control, while increasing (P less than 0.05) urine flow and kininogenase excretion. Infusion of vasopressin (1.2 mU/h, intravenous) enhanced (P less than 0.05) kinin excretion by two to threefold in DI rats and in LE rats during volume expansion with 0.45% NaCl-2.5% dextrose, while decreasing urine flow and increasing urine osmolality. This study demonstrates that the urinary excretion of immunoreactive kinins varies in relation to the urinary level of vasopressin, irrespective of urine volume and osmolality and of the urinary excretions of sodium and kininogenase. The study suggests a role for vasopressin in promoting the activity of the renal kallikrein-kinin system in the rat.

Hemorrhage-induced secretion of corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity into the rat hypophysial portal circulation and its inhibition by glucocorticoids.

A paradigm for reliably stimulating ACTH secretion in urethane-anesthetized male rats has been used to examine hypothalamic secretion of corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI) into the hypophysial portal circulation. Hemorrhage of 15% estimated blood volume evoked a maximal 4.6-fold elevation in circulating ACTH levels from an initial level of 178.4 +/- 51.2 (+/-se) to 814.7 +/- 184.6 pg ml-1. The cumulative amount of ACTH secreted in response to hemorrhage was 10-fold greater than the cumulative amount of ACTH secreted by nonhemorrhaged rats (unweighted cumulative effect over all time points). In another experiment from a similarly hemorrhaged group, the hypophysial portal plasma CRF-LI concentration rose 2-fold from an initial level of 429.7 +/- 34.2 to 839.3 +/- 170.4 pg ml-1. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (100 microgram/kg BW, im) had no effect on initial levels of either CRF-LI or ACTH. The hemorrhage-induced elevations of both CRF-LI and ACTH were abolished in dexamethasone-treated rats. The secretory rate of CRF-LI was calculated to be 1.61 +/- 0.7 pg min-1 in nonhemorrhaged animals. Reversible pharmacological hyperpolarization of the paraventricular nuclei by stereotaxically microinjected procaine (15 micrograms/100 nl) reduced portal plasma CRF-LI and peripheral plasma ACTH to undetectable levels. These observations led to the following conclusions: 1) CRF-LI is an important hypothalamic regulator of adenohypophysial ACTH secretion, 2) CRF-LI in the hypophysial portal circulation is derived from CRF-LI-containing neurons within the paraventricular nuclei, and 3) glucocorticoid negative feedback effects can be exerted at the central level.

Effect of vasopressin on prostaglandin excretion in conscious dogs.

A controversy persists around the effect of vasopressin on urinary prostaglandin excretion. In an attempt to explain part of this controversy, in the present study we re-investigated the effect of vasopressin on urinary prostaglandin excretion in conscious dogs after water loading and during hydropenia. In water diuresis, during the administration of arginine vasopressin or 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin, prostaglandin excretion and urine flow decreased in parallel. Prostaglandin E2 excretion fell from 1086 +/- 454 to 353 +/- 122 and from 754 +/- 216 to 226 +/- 74 pg min-1 as urine flow decreased by 74 and 66% with arginine vasopressin and 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin, respectively. In hydropenia both arginine vasopressin and 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin increased prostaglandin E2 excretion (from 85 +/- 15 to 261 +/- 82 pg min-1; and from 115 +/- 33 to 272 +/- 66 pg min-1, respectively), while urine flow remained practically unchanged. The changes in prostaglandin F2 alpha excretion were similar to those observed with prostaglandin E2. Plasma renin activity was reduced during arginine vasopressin infusion but was unaltered during 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin infusion. These results indicate that, in the conscious dog, urine flow is a major determinant of prostaglandin excretion but they also show that when large changes in urine flow are avoided vasopressin may increase urinary prostaglandin excretion.