Vasopressin release in sheep following various degrees of rehydration

Restriction of water intake of sheep to 0.5 l/day for 7-9 days increases plasma arginine vasopressin (pAVP), and voluntary rehydration causes a rapid fall in pAVP with no change in plasma osmolality. The extent of that inhibition of AVP release was assessed by comparing the decline of pAVP after drinking with pAVP disappearance curves obtained in the same sheep after stopping a constant infusion of AVP at 0.5 μg/h, which increased pAVP to the dehydration level. The fall in pAVP after drinking was almost identical with the disappearance curve showing that AVP release was almost completely inhibited during the 2-3 min taken for the sheep to drink 3-5 liters to satiate themselves. The response seemed, therefore, to be cued before the intake reached the satiating volume. When dehydrated sheep drank only 0.5 or 1.0 liter, in 30 s or less, pAVP again fell rapidly but only to a minimum ~15 min after drinking. The pAVP was unaltered in dehydrated sheep presented with water but denied access to it. Thus satiation was not necessary for rapid inhibition of AVP release after drinking, but satiation was necessary for this inhibition to be maintained. The initial inhibition was associated with falls in hematocrit and plasma total protein but not plasma osmolality. This isosmolar dilution occurred even in sheep that saw but were denied access to the water and suggests a shift of fluid from the extravascular space.