ADRENAL STEROID INHIBITION OF VASOPRESSIN RELEASE FROM THE NEUROHYPOPHYSIS OF NORMAL SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH ADDISON'S DISEASE *

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Abstract
Cortisol-like adrenal steroids administered orally prior to hydration or intravenously during water diuresis to normal and Addisonian subjects suppressed the "neural" release of vasopressin with intravenous nicotine without influencing the antidiuretic effects of induced hypertonicity or of exogenous vasopressin. Fluorocortisol had a similar effect in 2 normal subjects but in 2 others, this mineralocorticoid increased the sensitivity of response and enhanced the antidiuretic effect of nicotine. These results suggest that glucocorticoids increase free water diuresis in normal and Addisonian subjects by suppressing the neural regulation of vasopressin release.