Vasopressin receptor antagonism in rhesus monkey and man: stereochemical requirements.

The vasopressin antidiuretic (V2) antagonist activity of the position 6 stereoisomers of four vasopressin analogs were tested for water diuretic activity in the rhesus monkey and for activity to inhibit vasopressin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in rhesus monkey and human renomedullary tissue in vitro. Replacement of the mercapto groups of the cysteine residues with methylene groups resulted in compounds having similar in vitro potencies to their disulfide analogs; however, these 'dicarba' compounds demonstrated more potent aquaretic activity. Position 6 D enantiomers were associated with less vasopressin antagonist activity in vitro in both species. Based upon these studies, the most potent aquaretic structure identified was the dicarba analog SK & F 105494.