ABSTRACT
The method of measurement of plasma vasopressin was the radioimmunoassay technique. The control animals had no significant serial changes in plasma-vasopressin concentration, cardiac output, or blood pressure over the course of the experiment compared to control values and their values remained within normal limits. In the single human found, in which plasma vasopressin was measured in septic patients, the plasma values remained unchanged and within the normal physiological range. Reduction in mesenteric blood flow is also an event that is common to both sepsis/endotoxemia and vasopressin infusion. The available data from studies designed to investigate a relationship between vasopressin and myocardial depression also fail to meet decision tree criteria. Disturbance of hepatic function and glucoregulation is a classical occurrence during sepsis/endotoxemia. The chapter addresses studies selected from the literature that have manipulated the release or effects of vasopressin during sepsis/endotoxemia.
