A comparison of some activities of arginine vasopressin and lysine vasopressin on kidney function in conscious dogs.

Comparison was made on conscious trained dogs of the effect of highly purified arginine vasopressin and lysine vasopressin on the rate of urine flow, the excretion rate of Na and K and the renal clearances of creatinine and diodone, and of the actions of the vasopressins when administered together with oxytocin. The vasopressins were used in doses causing a maximal antidiuresis.The results showed, first, that the antidiuretic potency of arginine vasopressin was greater than that of lysine vasopressin and that its action lasted longer; second, that during water diuresis arginine vasopressin increased only Na excretion while lysine vasopressin increased both Na and K excretion; third, that arginine vasopressin had a potency about 5 to 6 times that of lysine vasopressin in antagonizing the augmentor effect of oxytocin on glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow.