Plasma antidiurectic hormone during hypoxia and anaesthesia in pigs.

The level of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in the plasma of pigs was studied during hypozia, anaesthesia and a combination of the two conditions. Hypoxia, caused by making conscious pigs breathe nitrogen, elicited a rise in the level of ADH without change in plasma osmolality; the hypoxia was accompanied in some cases by a slight lowering of arterial pressure which quickly returned to its original level after the period of hypoxic breathing. Pentobarbitone anaesthesia had no significant effect on the level of ADH but halothane anaesthesia elicited a rise in ADH. Transient high levels of ADH were seen in animals which were exposed to hypoxia during halothane or pentobarbitone anaesthesia. These high levels of ADH were sometimes, but not invariably, accompanied by a fall in arterial pressure. No consistent changes in plasma osmolality or haematocrit were associated with the raised plasma ADH.