Vasopressin administration in the first month of life: Effects on growth and water metabolism in hypothalamic diabetes insipidus rats

Rats homozygous for the mutant gene for diabetes insipidus (Brattleboro strain) are stunted in growth compared to rats heterozygous for the mutant gene and normal rats without the mutant gene. The hypothesis was tested that normal growth depends upon the presence of vasopressin. It was expected that replacement therapy of vasopressin to rats homozygous for diabetes insipidus would make possible a normal growth rate similar to that of rats heterozygous for diabetes insipidus. Rats heterozygous and homozygous for diabetes insipidus were treated with 0.25 U (Days 0–9) and 0.5 U (Days 10–29) of vasopressin during the first month of life. During the treatment period, vasopressin significantly increased the urine osmolalities of the homozygous rats demonstrating the renal effectiveness of the vasopressin. The results showed that remedial vasopressin administration could not produce normal growth rates in homozygous rats and may be detrimental. Six weeks following vasopressin treatment, homozygous, diabetis insipidus rats which had received vasopressin had increased 24 hr water intakes and decreased urine osmolalities compared to control, homozygous rats. Heterozygous rats also had decreased urine osmolalities resulting from vasopressin six weeks after the cessation of vasopressin treatment.