Central effects of vasopressin and 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) on interleukin-1 fever in the rat.

The intracerebroventricular administration of arginine vasopressin suppressed significantly the fever evoked by interleukin-1. This antipyretic action of arginine vasopressin was blocked completely by the antivasopressor analog d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)arginine vasopressin, an antagonist of the V1 subtype of peripheral vasopressin receptor. However, in contrast to AVP, the V2 receptor agonist, 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin, did not alter the normal time course or magnitude of interleukin-1 fever. These data suggest that arginine vasopressin induced antipyresis is mediated via central receptors which may resemble the V1 subtype of peripheral vasopressin receptor. The V2 subtype of vasopressin receptor is unlikely to be involved since an agonist of this receptor did not exhibit any antipyretic activity against interleukin-1 fever.