AUGMENTATION OF THE RESPONSE TO CRF IN MAN: RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ENDOGENOUS ANGIOTENSIN AND VASOPRESSIN

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The plasma ACTH response to corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) was studied in 7 normal individuals. Five subjects were restudied following 4 days of salt restriction which resulted in raised endogenous plasma angiotensin II secretion. In a 3rd experiment 6 subjects were given CRF following pre-infusion of hypertonic saline which significantly increased endogenous plasma vasopressin (AVP) levels. It was not demonstrated that high endogenous plasma AII levels were associated with a significant change in the plasma ACTH or cortisol responses to CRF. There was an almost 3-fold increase in the ACTH response when endogenous plasma AVP was elevated by hypertonic saline. Apparently, AVP is likely to be of physiological importance in potentiating the ACTH response to CRF and that AVP and CRF together may provide a better test of pituitary ACTH secretion than either peptide alone.