A synergistic effect of oxytocin and vasopressin on sodium excretion in the neurohypophysectomized rat.

1. Renal function and the effect of oxytocin and vasopressin replacement have been examined in anaesthetized male neurohypophysectomized rats. 2. Rates of urine flow were higher but sodium excretion markedly lower in neurohypophysectomized rats than in intact animals receiving hypotonic saline infusion (33.8 +/- 2.3 vs. 27.0 +/- 0.7 ml and 472 +/- 84 vs. 1946 +/- 124 mumol respectively for the third to sixth hour of study). 3. In intact animals, mean arterial blood pressure stabilized at 106 mmHg. Haematocrit (46%) remained stable but glomerular filtration rates declined slightly over the 8 h of study to 2.5 +/- 0.2 ml/h. These values in neurohypophysectomized rats did not differ significantly from those in intact rats. 4. Although plasma corticosterone levels (54 +/- 13 ng/ml) did not differ significantly from those in intact rats, neurohypophysectomy was associated with greatly reduced aldosterone concentration (0.12 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.76 +/- 0.04 ng/ml). Trace levels of vasopressin (0.17 +/- 0.03 microunit/ml) were found in neurohypophysectomized rat plasma. 5. Oxytocin administration at 15 microunits/min, which produced plasma hormone levels of 1.62 +/- 0.19 microunit/ml, had no detectable effect on sodium excretion but increased urine flow. Arginine vasopressin administration (12 microunits/min) inducing plasma levels of 1.24 +/- 0.08 microunit/ml, reduced urine flow by 80% and produced a small increase in sodium excretion. 6. Concurrent administration of oxytocin (15 microunits/min) potentiated the natriuretic response to vasopressin (12 microunits/min). Total sodium excretion during the 3 h combined hormone infusion (1256 +/- 149 mumol) greatly exceeded that in animals receiving vasopressin alone (549 +/- 132 mumol) and approached that observed in intact animals (1946 +/- 124 mumol). Combined hormone administration at the lower rate of 5 microunits/min oxytocin and 4 microunits/min vasopressin produced a similar large increment in sodium excretion. 7. It is concluded that replacement of both neurohypophysial hormones, at plasma levels within the physiological range, largely reverses the renal sodium retention of neurohypophysectomized rats, oxytocin considerably potentiating the natriuretic action of vasopressin. This synergism between the two neurohypophysial peptides to promote salt excretion may be an important component of the non-steroidal management of sodium.