Effects of vasopressin antagonist on vasopressin binding, adenylate cyclase activation, and water flux.

We studied the effect of an arginine vasopressin (AVP) analogue, (1-[beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid],2-O-ethyltyrosine, 4-valine)AVP(d[CH2]5Tyr[Et]VAVP), on the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by various hormones in the isolated nephron segments and 3H-AVP binding to renal papillary membranes from the rat. The net water flux across the renal cortical collecting tubules of the rabbit was also examined. We found that d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)VAVP significantly inhibited adenylate cyclase activation by AVP in cortical, medullary, and papillary collecting tubules and in the medullary thick ascending limb. In contrast, the AVP analogue did not alter the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by parathyroid hormone in the cortical thick ascending limb, by glucagon in the medullary thick ascending limb, and by calcitonin in cortical collecting tubules. In addition, d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)VAVP blocked [3H]AVP binding to renal papillary membranes. The enhanced net water transport induced by AVP in isolated, perfused rabbit cortical collecting tubules also was completely blocked by this AVP analogue. These results indicate that d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)VAVP specifically antagonizes the cellular action of AVP on the medullary thick ascending limb and on the cortical, medullary, and papillary collecting tubules. Evidence is also presented for competitive antagonism as the cellular mechanism of action.