Immunoreactive arginine vasopressin (AVP) and effects of AVP in the human vas deferens

Immunoreactive (IR) arginine vasopressin (AVP) was found to occur in the epididymal part of the human vas deferens. Segments from nine different subjects all contained IR-AVP in concentrations ranging from 37 to 717 fmol/gm. wet weight, concentrations severalfold higher than those normally found in the circulation. IR-AVP was shown by high performance liquid chromatography to elute in the same position as synthetic AVP. AVP added to isolated preparations of the human vas deferens induced concentration-related repetitive phasic contractions without significant changes of baseline tension. These contractions seemed to be mediated via stimulation of vasopressin V1-receptors and were abolished in the presence of vasopressin antagonists. Contractions induced by electrical field stimulation were frequency-dependent and sensitive to tetrodotoxin and prazosin. They were not affected by the vasopressin antagonists used. AVP increased the response to electrical field stimulation and this effect was inhibited by vasopressin antagonists. The results suggest either that circulating AVP is taken up and accumulated by the human vas deferens, and/or that AVP is synthesized locally. They do not suggest co-release of AVP and noradrenaline from nerve endings. The physiological role of the AVP occurring in the human vas deferens remains to be established.