Effect of Acute Hypoxaemia on Plasma Arginine Vasopressin in Conscious Man

1. Acute hypoxaemia has been reported to stimulate vasopressin release in animals.

2. Hypoxaemia induced by breathing 9·3% oxygen for 15–20 min failed to produce a rise in plasma arginine vasopressin concentration in six out of eight healthy human subjects. The two subjects who developed an increase in plasma arginine vasopressin concentration had a significant rise in serum cortisol.

3. Breathing 100% nitrogen until impairment of consciousness caused no rise in plasma arginine vasopressin concentration.