Vasopressin Modulation of the Distribution of Blood Flow in the Unanesthetized Rat

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Abstract
The effect of vasopressin infusion at a rate of 30 mU/min./kg (mimicking the anti-diuretic hormone [ADH] release during severe hemorrhage) and 90 mU/min/kg on the distribution of blood through 15 organs has been measured in unanesthetized, unrestrained rat. At the lower infusion rate cardiac output was unchanged, net blood flow increased to the posterior and, probably, the anterior pituitary glands and decreased to the skin. Although direct perfusion of the liver increased, total liver blood flow remained constant. At the higher infusion rate, although cardiac output was reduced 48%, net blood flow to the posterior pituitary, pineal body, adrenal and lung was maintained, while it markedly decreased to the carcass (mainly skeletal muscle), gut and spleen. The data suggest that the ADH may regulate, at least in part, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion by modulation of blood flow to the periphery of the anterior pituitary and demonstrate that the ADH is a potent vaso-active agent capable, by itself, of organizing patterns of blood flow under physiological conditions.