[Effect of the hypophyseo-adrenal cortical system on the vasopressinergic system].

The effects of stress, ACTH and hydrocortisone treatment on the blood arginine vasopressin were investigated in rats. The plasma basal level of vasopressin decreased in response to administration of hydrocortisone (300 mg/100 g, i.p.). ACTH (0.1 U/100 g., i.p.) had no effects in the basal level of plasma vasopressin in adrenalectomized rats. Hydrocortisone administration resulted in an increase of plasma vasopressin in response to immobilization stress. The stress resulted in an initial decrease of plasma vasopressin followed by a vasopressin concentration increasing up to basal level.