Osmotic and volume control of vasopressin release in pregnancy

Abstract

This article, a review of factors controlling vasopressin (AVP) release in pregnancy, extends our contribution to a symposium in this journal published in 1987 (vol X, pp 270-275). Body tonicity decreases (approximately 10 mOsm/kg) very early in pregnancy due to decrements in the osmotic thresholds for AVP release and thirst. In addition, the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of AVP markedly increases between gestational week 10 and midpregnancy, and is paralleled by the appearance and increase of circulating cystine aminopeptidase (vasopressinase), while the MCR of 1-deamino-8-D-AVP (DDAVP), an analogue resistant to inactivation by the enzyme, changes little in pregnancy. These increases (MCR of AVP and plasma vasopressinase) may explain certain syndromes of transient diabetes insipidus (DI) that complicate gestation. Finally, mechanisms responsible for the altered osmoregulation in pregnancy are obscure, but chorionic gonadotropin may be involved in the changes during human gestation.