Factor VIII and tissue plasminogen activator in monkeys after administration of DDAVP analogues

The effect of vasopressin and related compounds at V1a and V2 receptors in animal models relevant to human disease

Vasopressin, a neurohypophyseal peptide hormone, is the endogenous agonist at V1a, V1b and V2 receptors. The most important physiological function of vasopressin is the maintenance of water homeostasis through interaction with V2 receptors in the kidney. Vasopressin and related compounds are used in various clinical settings such as acute variceal bleeding associated with portal hypertension, septic shock, diabetes insipidus and coagulation disorders. The effect in the former two indications relates to the V1a receptor, and in the two latter indications the effect relates to the V2 receptor. Vasopressin and related compounds have demonstrated activity in animal models of portal hypertension, sepsis and septic shock, diabetes insipidus and coagulation disorders. The use of the compounds in animal models is reviewed. Generally, the effect of vasopressin and related compounds in animal models reflect the activity in the clinical setting, but in some cases important species differences exist.

Effects of neurohypophyseal hormone analogues on blood clotting factor VIII and fibrinolytic activity in sheep

The increase in blood clotting factor VIII (antihaemophilic factor, F-VIII) and fibrinolytic activity induced by the administration of neurohypophyseal hormone analogues, was assayed in sheep. Peptides with high selectivity for vasopressin V1, V2 or myometrial oxytocin receptors in the dose range of 0.1-10 micrograms/kg body weight were investigated. The main conclusions are as follows. The time-course of the F-VIII plasma levels following the administration of the peptides was biphasic, with one surge at about 20 min, a rebound phase, and another increase with the maximum at 60-90 min. The time-course of the fibrinolytic response, expressed as biological activity of plasminogen activator in the plasma euglobulin fraction, displayed a single maximum within 60 min. The baseline responses were reached within 90-120 min. Responses were expressed as integrals of the time-concentration curves in a predetermined time range (90-120 min). F-VIII and plasminogen activator enhancing effects seemed to be tightly linked to the specific vasopressin V2 receptor activities. [Val4,D-Arg8]Vasopressin displayed higher plasminogen activator activities than the standard substance, deamino[D-Arg8]vasopressin. The vasotocin analogue [Phe2,Orn8]oxytocin, a specific vasopressin V1 receptor agonist, also displayed high antihaemophilic and fibrinolytic potencies, expressed in terms of ED50 values, but did not reach the same maximal response as vasopressin V2 receptor agonists. Oxytocin and its highly selective uterotonic analogue, [Thr4,Gly7]oxytocin, displayed low antihaemophilic, and virtually no plasminogen activating potencies. Surprisingly, vasopressin V2 and V1V2 receptor antagonists studied in our experiments showed both enhanced F-VIII and fibrinolytic responses. Dose-response curves frequently displayed a decrease of the F-VIII, and sometimes also decreased fibrinolytic responses, at higher peptide doses. Strong decreases of the packed cell volume (haematocrit) and somewhat lower decreases of the total plasma protein concentration were observed shortly after administration of the peptides.