Time course of changes in plasma vasopressin during atrial distension.

Distension of the left atrium in chloralose anaesthetized dogs causes a diuresis and dilution of the urine. It has been reported previously that if distension of the atrium is maintained then urine flow reaches a peak after 50 min and then declines. A radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) at 10-min intervals before, during, and after atrial distension for 90 min. Plasma AVP decreased during atrial distension and did not increase until after the atrial distension was removed. Urine volume and free-water clearance increased and urine osmolality decreased, to reach maximum changes after 50 min. Although there was then a decline in some experiments, after reaching the peak changes, the mean values of the group did not show any statistically significant decline. Thus the urinary changes were also present for the 90 min of left atrial distension. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the diuretic response to left atrial distension is dependent upon decreased release of AVP from the neurohypophysis.