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We report the solid-phase synthesis and some pharmacological properties of 23 new analogs of arginine vasopressin (AVP) which have the Phe3 residue replaced by a broad variety of amino acids. Peptides 1-9 have at position 3: (1) the mixed aromatic/aliphatic amino acid thienylalanine (Thi) and the aliphatic amino acids; (2) cyclohexylalanine (Cha); (3) norleucine (Nle); (4) Leu; (5) norvaline (Nva); (6) Val; (7) alpha-aminobutyric acid (Abu); (8) Ala; (9) Gly. Peptides 10-23 have at position 3: the aromatic amino acids, (10) homophenylalanine (Hphe): (11) Tyr; (12) Trp; (13) 2-naphthylalanine (2-Nal); the conformationally-restricted amino acids (14) Pro; (15) 2-aminotetraline-2-carboxylic acid (Atc); the polar amino acids (16) Ser; (17) Thr; (18) Gln; and the charged amino acids (19) Asp; (20) Glu; (21) Arg; (22) Lys; (23) Orn. All 23 new peptides were evaluated for agonistic and, where appropriate, antagonistic activities in in vivo antidiuretic (V2-receptor) and vasopressor (V1a-receptor) assays and in in vitro (no Mg2+) oxytocic assays. The corresponding potencies (units/mg) in these assays for AVP are: 323+/-16; 369+/-6 and 13.9+/-0.5. Peptides 1-9 exhibit the following potencies (units/mg) in these three assays: (1) 379+/-14; 360+/-9; 36.2+/-1.9; (2) 294+/-21: 73.4+/-2.7; 0.33+/-0.02; (3) 249+/-28; 84.6+/-4.3; 4.72+/-0.16; (4) 229+19; 21.4+/-0.6; 2.1+/-0.2; (5) 134+/-5; 31.2+/-0.9; 28.4+/-0.2; (6) 114+/-9; 45.3+2.3; 11.3+/-1.6; (7) 86.7+/-2.5; 4.29+/-0.13; 0.45+/-0.03; (8) 15.5+/-1.5; 0.16+/-0.01; approximately 0.02: (9) 3.76+/-0.03; < 0.02; in vitro oxytocic agonism was not detected. These data show that the aliphatic amino acids Cha, Nle, Leu, Nva and Val are well-tolerated at position 3 in AVP with retention of surprisingly high levels of antidiuretic activity. Peptides 2-9 exhibit significant gains in both antidiuretic/vasopressor (A/P) and antidiuretic/oxytocic (A/O) selectivities relative to AVP. [Thi3]AVP appears to be a more potent antidiuretic and oxytocic agonist than AVP and is equipotent with AVP as a vasopressor agonist. The antidiuretic potencies of peptides 10-23 exhibit drastic losses relative to AVP. They range from a low of 0.018+/-0.001 units/mg for the Lys3 analog (peptide 22) to a high of 24.6+/-4.6 units,mg for the Hphe3 analog (peptide 10). Their vasopressor potencies are also drastically reduced. These range from a low of < 0.002 units/mg for peptide 22 to a high of 8.99+0.44 units/mg for the Atc3 analog (peptide 15). Peptides 10-23 exhibit negligible or undetectable in vitro oxytocic agonism. The findings on peptides 10-23 show that position 3 in AVP is highly intolerant of changes with aromatic, conformationally-restricted, polar and charged amino acids. Furthermore, these findings are in striking contrast to our recent discovery that position 3 in the potent V2/V1a/OT antagonist d(CH2)5D-Tyr(Et)2VAVP tolerates a broad latitude of structural change at position 3 with many of the same amino acids, to give excellent retention of antagonistic potencies. The data on peptides 1-4 offer promising clues to the design of more potent and selective AVP V2 agonists.

A vasopressin receptor antagonist, [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-pentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-o-ethyl-D-tyrosine, 4-valine, 9-tyrosylamide] arginine vasopressin (d(CH2)5[o-ethyl-D-Tyr2,Val4,Tyr-NH9(2)]AVP), has been prepared. This antagonist is a potent antiantidiuretic, antivasopressor and antioxytocic peptide with pA2 values of 7.69-7.94 and affinities of 1.12-11.0 nM. When radioiodinated at the phenyl moiety of the tyrosylamide residue at position 9, this peptide was demonstrated to bind to vasopressin V2 and V1a receptors with a dissociation constant of 0.22-0.75 nM. This ligand is a good tool for further studies on human vasopressin V2 receptor localization and characterization, when used in combination with a selective vasopressin V1a ligand.

We report the solid-phase synthesis and some pharmacological properties of 12 position three modified analogues (peptides 1-12) of the potent non-selective antagonist of the antidiuretic (V2-receptor), vasopressor (V1a-receptor) responses to arginine vasopressin (AVP) and of the uterine contracting (OT-receptor) responses to oxytocin (OT), [1(-beta mercapto-beta,beta-pentamethylenepropionic acid)-2-O-ethyl-D-tyrosine 4-valine] arginine vasopressin [d(CH2)5D-Tyr(Et)2VAVP] (A) and two analogues of (B) (peptides 13,14), the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid3 (Tic3) analogue of (A). Peptides 1-12 have the following substituents at position three in (A): (1) Pro; (2) Oic; (3) Atc; (4) D-Atc; (6) D-Phe; (7) Ile; (8) Leu; (9) Tyr; (10) Trp; (11) Hphe; (12) [HO]Tic; Peptide (13) is the Tyr-NH2(9) analogue of (B): Peptide (14) is the D-Cys(6) analogue of (B). All 14 new peptides were evaluated for agonistic and antagonistic activities in in vivo V2 and V1a assays and in vitro (no Mg2+)n oxytocic assays. With the exception of the D-Phe3 peptide (No. 6), which exhibits very weak V2 agonism (approximately 0.0017 U/mg), none of the remaining 13 peptides exhibit any agonistic activities in these assays. In striking contrast to their deleterious effects on agonistic activities in AVP, the Pro3, Oic3, Tyr3 and Hphe3 substitutions in (A) are very well tolerated, leading to excellent retention of V2, V1a and OT antagonistic potencies. All are more potent as V2 antagonists than the Ile3 and Leu3 analogues of (A). The Tyr-NH2(9) and D-Cys(6) substitutions in (B) are also well tolerated. The anti-V2 pA2 values of peptides 1-5 and 7-14 are as follows (1) 7.77 +/- 0.03; (2) 7.41 +/- 0.05; (3) 6.86 +/- 0.02; (4) 5.66 +/- 0.09; (5) approximately 5.2; (7) 7.25 +/- 0.08; (8) 6.82 +/- 0.06; (9) 7.58 +/- 0.05; (10) 7.61 +/- 0.08; (11) 7.59 +/- 0.07; (12) 7.20 +/- 0.05; (13) 7.57 +/- 0.1; (14) 7.52 +/- 0.06. All analogues antagonize the vasopressor responses to AVP, with anti-V1a pA2 values ranging from 5.62 to 7.64, and the in vitro responses to OT, with anti-OT pA2 values ranging from 5.79 to 7.94. With an anti-V2 potency of 7.77 +/- 0.03, the Pro3 analogue of (A) is surprisingly equipotent with (A), (anti-V2 pA2 = 7.81 +/- 0.07). These findings clearly indicate that position three in AVP V2/V1a antagonists, in contrast to position three in AVP agonists, is much more amenable to structural modification than had heretofore been anticipated. Furthermore, the surprising retention of V2 antagonism exhibited by the Pro3, Oic3, Tyr3, Trp3 and Hphe3 analogues of (A), together with the excellent retention of V2 antagonism by the Tyr-NH2(9) and D-Cys6 analogues of (B) are promising new leads to the design of potent and possibly orally active V2 antagonists for use as pharmacological tools and/or as radioiodinatable ligands and for development as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of the hyponatremia caused by the syndrome of the inappropriate secretion of the antidiuretic hormone (SIADH).

We report the solid-phase synthesis of the D-Cys6 analogues of arginine-vasopressin (AVP), peptide 1, of the selective AVP vasopressor (V1a receptor) antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-pentamethylenepropionic acid),2-O-methyltyrosine]arginine-vasopressin (d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2]-AVP, (A)), peptide 2, of the three nonselective antidiuretic/vasopressor (V2/V1a receptor) AVP antagonists d(CH2)5[Tyr(Et)2]VAVP (B), d(CH2)5[D-Tyr(Et)2]VAVP (C), and d(CH2)5[D-Phe2]VAVP (D) (where V = Val4), peptides 3-5, of the nonselective oxytocin (OT) antagonists d(CH2)5-[Tyr(Me)2]OVT (E) and d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4,Tyr-NH2(9)]OVT (F) (where OVT = ornithine-vasotocin), peptides 6 and 7, and of the selective OT antagonists desGly-NH2,d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4]OVT (G) and d(CH2)5]D-Trp2,Thr4]OVT (H), peptides 8 and 9. We also present the repeat syntheses of the previously reported d(CH2)5[D-Trp2]AVT (peptide 10) and its D-Cys6 analogue (peptide 11) (where AVT = arginine-vasotocin). Peptides 1-11 were assayed for agonistic and antagonistic activities in in vivo V1a, V2, and oxytocic assays and in in vitro oxytocic assays without and with 0.5 mM Mg2+. With V2 and V1a agonistic potencies of 0.82 and 0.41 units/mg, [D-Cys6]AVP has retained less than 0.3% of the V2 and V1a potencies of AVP. It exhibits no oxytocic activity and is an in vitro OT antagonist. pA2 = 6.67 (no Mg2+); pA2 = 5.24 (0.5 mM Mg2+). By contrast, with one or two exceptions, a D-Cys6/L-Cys6 interchange in antagonists 2-9, although resulting in reductions of antagonistic potencies in all assays for virtually all peptides 2-9 relative to A-H, has been well tolerated. For peptides 2-5, the anti-V2 and anti-V1a pA2 values range from approximately 5.54 to 7.33 and from 7.19 to 8.06, respectively; the range of in vitro anti-OT pA2 values (no Mg2+) is 7.35-7.87; with 0.5 mM Mg2+, the range is 7.24-8.21. Peptides 2 and 4 have in vivo anti-OT pA2s = 6.60 and 7.16, respectively. For peptides 6-9, the range of in vitro anti-OT pA2 values (no Mg2+) is 7.65-7.96; with 0.5 mM Mg2+, the range is 7.41-7.65, and the in vivo anti-OT pA2 values range from 6.85 to 7.33. With an in vivo anti-OT pA2 = 7.33, peptide 6 is equipotent with its parent E. The in vivo anti-OT potencies of peptides 7-9 are significantly reduced relative to those of F-H. The in vitro anti-OT (0.5 mM Mg2+) pA2 values of 10 and 11 are 7.54 and 7.50, both significantly lower than those previously reported.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

We have investigated the effects of mono-substitutions with the conformationally restricted amino acid, 1,2,3,4 tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (Tic) at position 3 in arginine vasopressin (AVP), at positions 2, 3 and 7 in potent non-selective cyclic AVP V2/V1a antagonists, in potent and selective cyclic and linear AVP V1a antagonists, in a potent and selective oxytocin antagonist and in a new potent linear oxytocin antagonist Phaa-D-Tyr(Me)-Ile-Val-Asn-Orn-Pro-Orn-NH2 (10). We report here the solid-phase synthesis of peptide 10 together with the following Tic-substituted peptides: 1. [Tic3]AVP: 2. dICH2)5[D-TIc2]VAVP: 3, d(CH2)5[D-Tyr(Et)2Tic3]VAVP: 4, d(CH2)5[Tic2Ala-NH2(9)]AVP: 5. d(CH2)5[Tyr]Me)2.Tic3,Ala-NH2(9)]AVP: 6. d(CH2)5 [Tyr(Me)2,Tic7]AVP: 7, Phaa-D-Tyr(Me)-Phe-Gln-Asn-Lys-Tic-Arg-NH2: 8, desGly-NH2,d[CH2]5[Tic2,Thr4]OVT: 9. desGly-NH2d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2Thr4, Tic7[OVT; 11, Phaa-D-Tic-Ile-Val-Asn-Orn-Pro-Orn-NH2, using previously described methods. The protected precursors were synthesized by the solid-phase method, cleaved, purified and deblocked with sodium in liquid ammonia to give the free peptides 1-11 which were purified by methods previously described. Peptides 1-11 were examined for agonistic and antagonistic potency in oxytocic (in vitro, without Mg2+) and AVP antidiuretic (V2-receptor) and vasopressor (V1a-receptor) assays. Tic3 substitution in AVP led to drastic losses of V2, V1a and oxytocic agonistic activities in peptide 1, L- and D-Tic2 substitutions led to drastic losses of anti-V2/anti-V1a and anti-oxytocic potencies in peptides 2, 4, 8 and 11 (peptide 2 retained substantial anti-oxytocic potency; pA2 = 7.25 +/- 0.025). Whereas Tic3 substitution in the selective V1a antagonist d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Ala-NH2(9)]AVP(C) led to a drastic reduction in anti-V1a potency (from anti-V1a pA2 8.75 to 6.37 for peptide 5, remarkably, Tic3 substitution in the V2/V1a antagonist d(CH2)5(D-Tyr(Et)2]VAVP(B) led to full retention of anti-V2 potency and a 95% reduction in anti-V1a potency. With an anti-V2 pA2 = 7.69 +/- 0.05 and anti-V1a pA2 = 6.95 +/- 0.03. d(CH2)5[D-Tyr(Et)2, Tic3]VAVP exhibits a 13-fold gain in anti-V2/anti-V1a selectivity compared to (B). Tic7 substitutions are very well tolerated in peptides 6, 7 and 9 with excellent retention of the characteristic potencies of the parent peptides. The findings on the effects of Tic3 substitutions reported here may provide promising leads to the design of more selective and possibly orally active V2 antagonists for use as pharmacological tools and as therapeutic clinical agents for the treatment of the syndrome of the inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH).

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) acts in the pituitary gland, in synergy with corticotrophin-releasing factor, to induce ACTH release in response to stressful stimuli. Pituitary AVP receptors in the rat are coupled to phospholipase C, as are the so-called V1-type AVP receptors. The present study examined [3H]AVP binding in membranes prepared from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland of the pig. [3H]AVP, alone or in competition with analogues, bound to sites in the pig anterior lobe which are pharmacologically similar to those described previously by others in the rat pituitary gland. For comparison, the same competition studies were performed on membrane preparations from the rat liver which contain the classic V1-type AVP receptor. Pituitary and liver AVP-binding sites were dissimilar; both cyclic and linear V1 antagonists had, in general, a much lower affinity for pituitary AVP-binding sites than for those in the liver. Thus, Phaa-D-Tyr(Et)-Phe-Gln-Asn-Lys-Pro-Arg-NH2 (Phaa = phenylacetyl) has a 2500-fold greater affinity for the latter (negative logarithm of inhibition constant (pKi) = 9.64) than for the former (pKi = 6.22). One linear antagonist, Pa-D-Tyr-Phe-Val-Asn-Arg-Pro-Arg-Arg-NH2 (Pa = propionyl) had about equal affinities for liver and pituitary membranes (pKi = 6.39 and 6.53 respectively). Another compound, Phaa-D-Tyr-Phe-Val-Asn-Arg-Pro-Arg-Arg-NH2 had the highest affinity found to date for binding to AVP sites in the pituitary (pKi = 7.43). These findings suggest some ideas for the design of more potent and/or selective AVP analogues acting in the pituitary gland.

Selective agonists and antagonists are powerful tools for studies on AVP and OT receptors and on the physiological and pathophysiological roles of AVP and OT. Here we show how some of these peptides and their radiolabelled derivatives were designed. We also present examples of the currently available cyclic and linear OT and AVP agonists and antagonists from our laboratories.

We report the solid-phase synthesis and antagonistic potencies of 25 analogues (1-25) of [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-pentamethylenepropionic acid),2-O-ethyl-D-tyrosine,4-valine]arginine-vasopressin (d(CH2)5D-Tyr(Et)2-VAVP) (A) and of the related Ile4 (D) and [D-Phe2,Ile4] (E) analogues, potent antagonists of the antidiuretic (V2-receptor) and of the vasopressor (V1a-receptor) responses to arginine-vasopressin (AVP). Six of these peptides (1, 13, 17, 19, 21, and 23) have the Pro-Arg-Gly-NH2 tripeptide side chain fully or partially replaced or extended by ethylenediamine (Eda). The remaining 19 peptides have L- or D-amino acids retrolinked to these six C-terminal Eda peptides. Peptides 1, 13, 17, and 19 all have the ring structure of (A). Their side-chain structures are as follows: 1, Eda; 13, Pro-Eda; 17, Pro-Arg-Eda; 19, Arg-Gly-Eda. Peptide 21 is the Pro-Arg-Eda analogue of D; peptide 23 is the Pro-Arg-Gly-Eda analogue of E. Peptide 2 is the retro-Arg analogue of 1. Its side-chain structure is Eda<--Arg. Peptides 3-6 are analogues of 2 which have the D-Tyr-(Et)2 residue replaced by L-Tyr(Et)2 (3), D-Phe2 (4), D-Ile2 (5), or D-Leu2 (6), respectively. Peptides 7-12 are analogues of 2 which have the C-terminal retro-Arg replaced in retrofashion by D-Arg (7), Gly (8), Orn (9), D-Orn (10), D-Lys (11), or Arg-Arg (12). Peptides 14-16 have D-Orn (14), D-Lys (15), and D-Arg (16) retrosubstituted to peptide 13. Peptides 18, 20, and 22 are the retro-Arg-substituted analogues of 17, 19, and 21, respectively. Peptides 24 and 25 have Val and D-Val in retrolinkage with 23, respectively. All 25 peptides were examined for agonistic and antagonistic potencies in AVP V2/V1a assays. With the exception of peptides 5 and 6, all exhibit potent anti-V1a antagonism, with anti-V1a pA2 values in the range 7.64-8.33.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

We report the solid-phase synthesis of eight position-9-modified analogues of the potent V1-receptor antagonist of arginine-vasopressin, [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-pentamethylenepropionic acid),2-O-methyltyrosine]arginine-vasopressin (d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP) (1-8) and five position-9-modified analogues of the closely related beta,beta-dimethyl less potent V1 antagonist, [1-deaminopenicillamine,2-O-methyltyrosine]arginine-vasopressin (dPTyr(Me)AVP) (9-13). In d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP the C-terminal Gly-NH2 was replaced by (1) ethylenediamine (Eda), (2) methylamine (NHMe), (3) Ala-NH2, (4) Val-NH2, (5) Arg-NH2, (6) Thr-NH2, (7) Gly-Eda, (8) Gly-N-butylamide (Gly-NH-Bu); in dPTyr(Me)AVP the C-terminal Gly-NH2 was replaced by (9) Ala-NH2, (10) Val-NH2, (11) Thr-NH2, (12) Arg-NH2, and (13) Tyr-NH2. All 13 analogues were tested for agonistic and antagonistic activities in in vivo rat vasopressor (V1-receptor) and rat antidiuretic (V2-receptor) assays. They exhibit no evident vasopressor agonism. All modifications in both antagonists were well-tolerated with excellent retention of V1 antagonism and striking enhancements in anti-V1/anti-V2 selectivity. With anti-V1 pA2 values of 8.75, 8.73, 8.86, and 8.78, four of the analogues of d-(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP (1-3 and 6) are equipotent with d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP (anti-V1 pA2 = 8.62) but retain virtually none of the V2 agonism of d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP. They are in fact weak V2 antagonists and strong V1 antagonists with greatly enhanced selectivity for V1 receptors relative to that of d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP. With anti-V1 pA2 values respectively of 8.16, 8.05, 8.04, 8.52, and 8.25, all five analogues (9-13) of dPTyr(Me)AVP are at least as potent V1 antagonists as dPTyr(Me)AVP (pA2 = 7.96) and three of these (9, 12, 13) actually show enhanced V1 antagonism over that of dPTyr(Me)AVP. In fact, the Arg-NH2(9) analogue (12) is almost equipotent with d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP. These new V1 antagonists are potentially useful as pharmacological tools for studies on the cardiovascular roles of AVP. Furthermore the analogues of dPTyr(Me)AVP may be useful in studies on the role(s) of AVP in the V1b-receptor-mediated release of ACTH from corticotrophs.

Substitution of arginine for glutamine in the 4-position of a vasopressin V1 antagonist has been reported to turn it into an agonist. We resynthesized this 4-arginine analog and synthesized additional cyclic and linear vasopressin antagonists containing a 4-arginine. The presence of a 4-arginine in the resynthesized and new analogs had relatively minor effects on their antivasopressin V1 and V2 antagonistic potencies.

We report the solid-phase synthesis of 21 linear analogues of A and D, two nonselective antagonists of the vasopressor (V1) and antidiuretic (V2) responses to arginine vasopressin (AVP). A is Aaa-D-Tyr(Et)-Phe-Val-Asn-Abu-Pro-Arg-Arg-NH2 (where Aaa = adamantylacetyl at position 1). D is the des-Arg9 analogue of A. Nine new analogues of A (1-9) and 12 new analogues of D (10-21) were obtained. The following substitutions either alone or in combination were incorporated in A and/or in D: phenylacetic acid (Phaa) and tert-butylacetic acid (t-Baa) at position 1; D-Tyr2, D-Tyr(Me)2; Gln4; Arg6, Lys6, Orn6, MeAla7. The nine new analogues of A are (1) [Arg6], (2) [Lys6], (3) [Orn6], (4) [Phaa1,Lys6], (5) [Phaa1,Orn6], (6) [D-Tyr2], (7) [D-Tyr2,Arg6], (8) [Phaa1,D-Tyr2], (9) [Phaa1,D-Tyr2,Arg6]. The 12 new analogues of D are (10) [Arg6], (11) [Lys6], (12) [Orn6], (13) [Phaa1,Lys6], (14) [Phaa1,Gln4,Lys6], (15) [Phaa,D-Tyr(Me)2,Lys6], (16) [Phaa,D-Tyr(Me)2,Gln4,Lys6], (17) [Phaa1,D-Tyr2,Gln4,Lys6], (18) [t-Baa1,Lys6], (19) [t-Baa1,Gln4,Lys6], (20) [Arg6,MeAla7], (21) [t-Baa1,Arg6,MeAla7]. All 21 peptides were examined for agonistic and antagonistic potencies in AVP V2 and V1 assays in rats. With the exception of 6, the eight remaining new analogues of A are equipotent or more potent than A as V1 antagonists. Peptides 2-9 are less potent than A as V2 antagonists. Three, 4, 5, and 9, exhibit significant gains in anti-V1/anti-V2 selectivities (selectivity ratio = 41, 14, and infinite, respectively), compared to A (anti-V1, pA2 = 7.75 +/- 0.07; selectivity ratio = 0.44). Peptide 9 is unique in both series. It is a highly potent V1 antagonist (anti-V1 pA2 = 8.62 +/- 0.11 and is the first linear peptide to exhibit substantial antidiuretic agonism (4.1 +/- 0.2 units/mg). With the exception of 12, the remaining 11 analogues of D are 8-40 times more potent than D as V1 antagonists. Eight of these peptides exhibit significant gains in anti-V1/anti-V2 selectivities compared to D (anti-V1 pA2 = 7.43 +/- 0.06; selectivity ratio = 1.6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

As part of a program in which we are attempting (a) to obtain more potent and/or more selective antagonists of the antidiuretic responses to arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and (b) to delineate the structural features at positions 1-9 required for antidiuretic antagonism, we have synthesized 13 new analogues of the antidiuretic antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-pentamethylenepropionic acid),2-D-isoleucine,4- valine]arginine-vasopressin [d(CH2)5[D-Ile2]VAVP] in which the valine residue at position 4 has been replaced by the L-amino acids Abu, Ile, Thr, Ala, Ser, Nva, Gln, Leu, Lys, Cha, Asn, Orn, and Phe and two new analogues of the antidiuretic antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-pentamethylenepropionic acid),2-D-phenylalanine,4- valine]arginine-vasopressin [d(CH2)5[D-Phe2]VAVP] with the Val4 residue replaced by Ser and Orn. These analogues are 1, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Abu4]AVP; 2, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Ile4]AVP; 3, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Thr4]AVP; 4, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Ala4]AVP; 5, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Ser4]AVP; 6, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Nva4]AVP; 7, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2]AVP; 8, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Leu4]AVP; 9, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Lys4]AVP; 10, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Cha4]AVP; 11, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Asn4]AVP; 12, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Orn4]AVP; 13, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Phe4]AVP; 14, d(CH2)5[D-Phe2,Ser4]AVP; and 15, d(CH2)5[D-Phe2,Orn4]AVP. The protected peptide precursors for these peptides were prepared by the solid-phase method, followed by ammonolytic cleavage. The free peptides 1-15 were obtained by deblocking with Na in NH3, oxidation of the resultant disulfhydryl compounds with dilute K3[Fe(CN)6], and purification on Sephadex G-15 in a two-step procedure with 50% HOAc and 0.2 M HOAc as eluants. Analogues 1-15 were tested in rats for agonistic and antagonistic activities by antidiuretic, vasopressor, and oxytocic assays.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The synthesis of N-acetyl-[2-(O-methyl)tyrosine]arginine-vasopressin [Ac-Tyr(Me)AVP] was undertaken utilizing a combination of the stepwise active ester and fragment condensation methods. Ac-Tyr(Me)AVP is an antagonist of the vasopressor response to vasopressin (pA2 = 7.18 +/- 0.08), devoid of vasopressor agonist activity, and has an antidiuretic potency of 0.026 +/- 0.002 unit/mg, a 15 000-fold decrease over the antidiuretic activity of [2-(O-methyl)tyrosine]arginine-vasopressin. The analogue is also an antagonist of the in vitro uterotonic activity of oxytocin with pA2 values of 7.29 +/- 0.08 in the absence of Mg2+ and 6.73 +/- 0.14 in 0.5 mM Mg2+. This result of Nalpha-acetylation of Tyr(Me)AVP parallels similar results in the oxytocin series and suggests that this substitution should be considered in the design of potential antagonists of the antidiuretic response to vasopressin.

Four new synthetic analogs of vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) can antagonize the antidiuretic response to intravenous vasopressin in anesthetized, water-loaded rats. They also cause a diuresis resembling that of diabetes insipidus when given intraperitoneally to conscious rats. Such antagonists may prove to be useful both pharmacologically and therapeutically.

As part of a program in which we are attempting (a) to delineate the structural features at positions 1-9 in our previously reported antidiuretic antagonists required for antidiuretic antagonism and (b) to obtain analogues with enhanced antiantidiuretic potency and/or selectivity, we have synthesized 14 new analogues of the antidiuretic antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid),2-D-phenylalanine,4-valine]arginine-vasopressin [d-(CH2)5-D-Phe2VAVP), in which the valine residue at position 4 was replaced by the following L-amino acids and glycine: Ile, Abu, Thr, Ala, Gln, Lys, Cha, Nle, Nva, Phe, Leu, Gly, Tyr, and Pro. These analogues are 1, d-(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Ile4AVP; 2, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Abu4AVP; 3, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Thr4AVP; 4, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Ala4AVP;5, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2AVP; 6, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Lys4AVP; 7, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Cha4AVP; 8, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Nle4AVP; 9, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Nva4AVP; 10, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Phe4AVP; 11, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Leu4AVP; 12, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Gly4AVP; 13, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Tyr4AVP; 14, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Pro4AVP. The protected intermediates required for the synthesis of all of these peptides were prepared by the solid-phase method and cleaved from the resin by ammonolysis. Following deblocking with Na in NH3 and oxidizing with K3[Fe(CN)6], each peptide was purified on Sephadex G-15 in a two-step procedure using 50% HOAc and 0.2 M HOAc as eluants. Analogues 1-14 were tested for agonistic and antagonistic activities by antidiuretic, vasopressor, and oxytocic assays in rats. Analogues 1, 2, and 4-6 exhibit no detectable antidiuretic agonistic activity. All analogues, with the exception of the Pro4-containing analogue, are antidiuretic antagonists. Their antiantidiuretic pA2 values are as follows: 1, 8.24 +/- 0.08; 2, 7.96 +/- 0.07; 3, 7.62 +/- 0.09; 4, 7.52 +/- 0.03; 5, 7.21 +/- 0.07; 6, 7.22 +/- 0.12; 7, 7.19 +/- 0.08; 8, 7.12 +/- 0.09; 9, 6.99 +/- 0.06; 10, 6.07 +/- 0.11; 11, 6.07 +/- 0.11; 12, 5.85 +/- 0.05; 13, approximately 5.57; 14, a weak agonist (0.004 U/mg). Analogues 1-14 also antagonize the vascular responses to arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and the in vitro oxytocic responses to oxytocin. Analogues 1, 2, 3, and 5 have also been shown to antagonize the in vivo oxytocic responses to oxytocin. Five of these analogues (1, 2, 3, 6, and 7) exhibit enhanced antiantidiuretic/antivasopressor selectivity. d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Lys4AVP and other position-4 analogues with side-chain functional groups may be useful covalent ligands with which to probe the structural characteristics of AVP renal and vascular receptors. With an antiantidiuretic "effective dose" of 0.46 +/- 0.07 nmol/kg and a pA2 value of 8.24 +/- 0.08, d(CH2)5-D-Phe2,Ile4AVP (1) appears to be the most potent antidiuretic antagonist reported to date.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Vasopressin antagonists are valuable pharmacological tools for investigating physiological and behavioural functions of the nonapeptide arginine-vasopressin (AVP). The removal of glycinamide from the carboxy terminus of AVP drastically reduces its characteristic vasopressor and antidiuretic activities. In contrast to this we show here that removal of the carboxy-terminal glycinamide or the glycine at position 9 from several vasopressin antagonists makes little difference to their ability to block vasopressor and antidiuretic responses to AVP. These data demonstrate the critical structural requirements of the carboxy-terminal position for receptor activation, in contrast to the lack of such requirements for receptor binding. They also provide an avenue to a wide variety of antagonists substituted at the carboxy terminus (for example radiolabelled derivatives and affinity ligands) and suggest clues for the development of more potent and/or selective antagonists.

The region of the arginine-vasopressin (AVP) molecule critical for binding to the effective antibodies in a RIA has been localized to the vicinity of the Phe3 position by using the cross-reaction in the assay between AVP and a number of its structural analogs. Binding seems to be almost independent of any direct contributions from components of the tripeptide tail of AVP. Using this RIA it was found that disequilibrium conditions of incubation produce a 5-fold increase in assay sensitivity over equilibrium conditions. Amino acid analysis revealed that three synthetic peptide preparations used as reference standards comprised only 70-80% of their weight as peptide and this finding points up the need to correct such reference standards for their peptide content. The ratio of rat vasopressor activity to RIA activity of these three preparations as well as of a natural AVP preparation, however, approximated unity. Results obtained comparing measurements of AVP in rat neural lobes by RIA and rat vasopressor assay show a correlation between RIA and bioassay of 0.9406, a slope of 1.086, and an intercept of 20 mU, suggesting good agreement for AVP determined by these two assay systems.

Systemic injection or arginine vasopressin (AVP) (1 micrograms/rat) significantly prolonged extinction of a pole-jump, active avoidance response in rats; lateral ventricular injection of 1000-fold less AVP (1 ng/rat) produced similar results. A new AVP analogue, [1-deaminopenicillamine-2-(O-methyl)tyrosine]arginine vasopressin (dPTyr-(Me)AVP), is known to antagonize behavioral and vascular effects of exogenous AVP at molar ratios of 5 : 1. At a dose of 100 micrograms/rat (subcutaneously) dPTyr-(Me)AVP produces, by itself, a behavioral effect opposite to that of exogenous AVP, namely a facilitation of extinction. Injections of dPTyr-(Me)AVP into the lateral ventricle were ineffective except at a dose of 10 micrograms/rat. These results confirm previous reports of the effect of vasopressin on delaying extinction of avoidance behavior, but suggest a site of action distant from the lateral ventricle.

[1-(L-2-Hdroxy-3-mercaptopropanic acid)]arginine-vasopressin (hydroxy-AVP), [1-(L-2-hydroxy-3-mercaptopropanoic acid),8-D-arginine]vasopressin (hydroxy-DAVP), and [1-(L-2-hydroxy-3-mercaptopropanoic acid),4-valine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin (hydroxy-VDAVP) were synthesized by a combination of the solid-phase and solution methods of peptide synthesis. Protected octapeptides synthesized by the solid-phase method were further acylated by 1 + 8 couplings in solution to furnish the key intermediates. Hydroxy-AVP has antidiuretic potency of 470 units/mg and activity in the rat vasopressor assay of 550 units/mg, representing a small enhancement of activity over that of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) in each case. Hydroxy-DAVP and hydroxy-VDAVP have essentially the same high antidiuretic activity (900 units/mg) and very low vasopressor potencies (0.9 and less than 0.02 units/mg, respectively). Hydroxy-AVP, hydroxy-DAVP, and hydroxy-VDAVP thus have antidiuretic-pressor selectivity (A/P) of 1, 1000, and greater than 45 000, respectively. These data are compared with those of other vasopressin analogues. Hydroxy-VDAVP is a highly specific antidiuretic peptids and may be useful in pharmacological studies of antidiuresis.

As part of a program aimed at designing more potent and selective antagonists of the antidiuretic responses to arginine-vasopressin (AVP), we substituted O-alkyl-D-tyrosine (where alkyl = methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, or n-propyl) at position 2 in our eight previously reported O-alkyl-L-tyrosine antagonists of antidiuretic and vasopressor responses to AVP. We also substituted D-tyrosine for L-tyrosine in two vasopressor antagonists with weak antidiuretic agonistic activity, [1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid),4-valine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin [d(CH2)5VDAVP] and its L-arginine isomer [d(CH2)5VAVP]. The ten analogues, synthesized by the solid-phase method, are as follows: 1, d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(Me)VDAVP; 2, d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(Et)VDAVP; 3, d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(i-Pr)VDAVP; 4, d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(n-Pr)VDAVP; 5, d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(Me)VAVP; 6, d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(Et)VAVP; 7, d(CH2)5-D-Tyr(n-Pr)VAVP; 8, d-(CH2)5-D-Tyr(i-PR)VAVP; 9, d(CH2)5-D-TyrVDAVP; 10, d(CH2)5-D-TyrVAVP. These analogues were tested for agonistic and antagonistic activities in rat antidiuretic and rat vasopressor systems. All ten D-tyrosine analogues possess transient weak antidiuretic activities (0.004--0.05 U/mg). Subsequent doses of AVP are reversibly antagonized for 1--3 h, depending on the dose of the antagonist. They exhibit the following antiantidiuretic pA2 values: 1, 7.19 +/- 0.11; 2, 7.59 +/- 0.04; 3, 7.51 +/- 0.06; 4, 7.60 +/- 0.05; 5, 7.77 +/- 0.07; 6, 7.81 +/- 0.07; 7, 7.66 +/- 0.11; 8, 7.61 +/- 0.06; 9, 7.03 +/- 0.05; 10, 7.51 +/- 0.08. They are all effective antagonists of vasopressor responses to AVP. Analogues 1--8 are two to ten times more potent than their respective O-alkyl-L-tyrosine isomers as antidiuretic antagonists. Since the vasopressor potencies of the O-alkyl-L-tyrosine analogues have either diminished or remained virtually unchanged, these analogues exhibit a selective increase in their antiantidiuretic/antivasopressor ratios with respect to their respective O-alkyl-L-tyrosine analogues. The finding that the substitution of an unalkylated D-tyrosine for L-tyrosine in d(CH2)5VDAVP and d(CH2)5VAVP converts these weak antidiuretic agonists into potent antagonists of antidiuretic responses to AVP is highly significant, especially in view of the relative ease of synthesis and much higher yields of unalkylated vs. alkylated tyrosine analogues. These ten new analogues are potentially useful as pharmacological tools and as therapeutic agents. The findings presented here have also obvious potential for the design of even more potent and selective antidiuretic antagonists.

Using the Merrifield solid-phase method, we have synthesized 18 new 2-O-alkyltyrosine-substituted analogues (where alkyl = methyl and ethyl) of the arginine-vasopressin (AVP) vasopressor antagonists [1-deaminopenicillamine]-arginine-vasopressin (dPAVP), [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-diethylpropionic acid)]arginine-vasopressin (dEt2AVP), and [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid)]arginine-vasopressin (d(CH2)5AVP) and of their 8-D-arginine (d(R2)DAVP) analogues, their 4-valine (dR2VAVP) analogues, and their 4-valine,8-D-arginine (d(R2)VDAVP) analogues [where R = CH3 or C2H5 and 2R = (CH2)5]. These analogues were tested for agonistic and antagonistic activities in in vivo rat vasopressor and rat antidiuretic and in vitro rat uterus assay systems. Although many exhibit very low antidiuretic activities, none of the new analogues antagonize antidiuretic responses to AVP. They exhibit no evident pressor activities and are in fact all highly effective antagonists of the vasopressor responses to AVP. They are also potent antagonists of the in vitro oxytocic responses to oxytocin, both in the absence and in the presence of Mg2+. These analogues together with their corresponding antivasopressor pA2 values are as follows: 1. dPTyr(Et)AVP, 8.40 +/- 0.08; 2. dEt2Tyr(Me)AVP, 8.53 +/- 0.06; 3. dEt2Tyr(Et)AVP, 8.46 +/- 0.08; 4. d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)AVP, 8.47 +/- 0.04; 5. dPTyr(Me)DAVP, 8.31 +/- 0.08; 6. dPTyr(Et)DAVP, 8.27 +/- 0.06; 7. dEt2Tyr(Me)DAVP, 8.57 +/- 0.03; 8. dEt2Tyr(Et)DAVP, 8.33 +/- 0.06; 9. d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)DAVP, 8.41 +/- 0.05; 10. d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)DAVP, 8.45 +/- 0.05; 11. dPTyr(Me)VAVP, 8.36 +/- 0.07; 12. dPTyr(Et)VAVP, 8.07 +/- 0.13; 13. dEt2Tyr(Me)VAVP, 8.29 +/- 0.08; 14. dEt2Tyr(Et)VAVP, 8.42 +/- 0.06; 15. dPTyr(Me)VDAVP, 7.84 +/- 0.06; 16. dPTyr(Et)VDAVP, 8.46 +/- 0.03; 17. dET2Tyr(Me)VDAVP, 8.35 +/- 0.10; 18. dEt2Tyr (Et)VDAVP, 8.19 +/- 0.07. Seven of these analogues are clearly more potent vasopressor antagonists than their respective unalkylated tyrosine-containing parents. In the remaining 11, antagonistic potency was not changed significantly. In no instance did 2-O-alkyltyrosine substitution decrease antagonistic potency. With pA2 values equal to or greater than 8.40, nine of these antagonists (numbers 1-4, 7, 9, 10, 14, and 16) are among the most potent vasopressor antagonists reported to date. They could thus serve as additional valuable pharmacological tools in studies on the roles of AVP in the control of blood pressure in normal and in pathophysiological conditions. These findings may also provide useful clues to the design of more potent and selective antagonists of AVP.

Arginine vasotocin (AVT), the amphibian neurohypophysial hormone, has pressor and antidiuretic actions in bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana). Much higher doses of exogenous AVT were required for the pressor response than those for the antidiuretic response. When bullfrog legs and kidneys were perfused under constant pressure simultaneously, the kidney vasculature was more sensitive to bolus injection of AVT than was the leg vasculature. The same was true when the tissues were perfused with different concentrations of hormone. AVT constricts preglomerular vessels in the bullfrog. We suggest that the preglomerular vasculature of the bullfrog is more sensitive to AVT than is the peripheral vasculature. This may explain in part the antidiuretic action of the hormone at nonpressor doses. Evolutionary speculations are discussed.

We report the solid phase synthesis of a series of 16 linear analogues of the cyclic antagonist of the antidiuretic (V2) and the vasopressor (V1) responses to arginine vasopressin (AVP), d(CH2)5[D-Tyr(Et)2, Val4]AVP(A). Peptide 1, the linear precursor of (A), (CH2)5(SH)-CH2-CO-D-Tyr(Et)-Phe-Val-Asn-Cys-Pro-Arg-Gly-NH2 was modified at position six with alpha-L-aminobutyric acid (Abu) to give peptide 2. Further modifications of the Abu6 analogue (No. 2) at position one by substituting cyclohexylacetic acid (Caa), cyclohexylpropionic acid (Cpa), 1-adamantaneacetic acid (Aaa), phenylacetic acid (Phaa), tert.-butylacetic acid (t-Baa), isovaleric acid (Iva), propionic acid (Pa), L-penicillamine (P), tert.-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) or omitting any substituent at this position, and/or in combination with Arg-NH2(9), Ala-NH2(9), D-Arg8-Arg-NH2(9), and desGly9 modifications yielded the remaining 14 peptides. All 16 peptides were examined for agonistic and antagonistic potencies in AVP V2 and V1 assays in rats. Apart from the Cpa analogue and the analogue lacking any substituent in the 1-position, all exhibit substantial V2 and V1 antagonism. A number are as potent as (A) as V2 antagonists. With an anti-V2 pA2 = 8.11 +/- 0.07, Aaa-D-Tyr(Et)-Phe-Val-Asn-Abu-Pro-Arg-Arg-NH2 (No. 6) is as potent as any cyclic AVP V2 antagonist reported to date. The PaI analogue of No. 6 exhibits promising anti-V2/anti-V1 selectivity. These findings prove conclusively that a ring structure is not a requirement for recognition of or for binding to AVP V2 or V1 receptors. This discovery thus offers a promising new approach to the design of peptide and non-peptide antagonists of AVP and perhaps also to other cyclic peptides such as somatostatin, atrial-natriuretic factor, insulin, and the recently discovered endothelin. Some of these linear antagonists may be of value as pharmacological tools and as therapeutic agents.

As part of a program in which we are attempting the design and synthesis of an antagonist of the antidiuretic response to arginine-vasopressin (AVP) [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid),4-valine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin [d(CH2)5VDAVP] was synthesized and assayed for antidiuretic, vasopressor, and oxytocic activities. The required protected intermediate was synthesized by a combination of solid-phase synthesis and an [8 + 1] coupling in solution. d(CH2)5VDAVP has an antidiuretic potency of 0.10 +/- 0.02 unit/mg, less than 1/10000 that of its parent [deamino,4-valine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin (dVDAVP). d(CH2)5VDAVP is a specific antagonist of the vasopressor responses to AVP. It has an antivasopressor pA2 value of 7.68 +/- 0.05 when tested against AVP. It is also an antagonist of the in vitro oxytocic response to oxytocin (pA2 value = 6.62 +/- 0.07). With its negligible antidiuretic activity, absence of oxytocic activity, and its potent and specific ability to antagonize the vasopressor effects of AVP, d(CH2)5VDAVP is one of the most potent and selective vasopressor antagonists reported to date. It should thus be a useful tool with which to probe the possible role(s) that AVP may play in cardiovascular regulation under normal and pathological conditions.

As part of a program in which we are attempting to design and synthesize antagonists of the vasopressor response to arginine-vasopressin (AVP), [1-deaminopenicillamine]arginine-vasopressin (dPAVP), [2-O-methyl)tyrosine]-arginine-vasopressin [Tyr(Me)AVP], and [1-deaminopenicillamine,2-(O-methyl)tyrosine]arginine-vasopressin [dPTyr(Me)AVP] were synthesized by the solid-phase method and assayed for vasopressor, antidiuretic, and oxytocic activities. Tyr(Me)AVP has a vasopressor potency of 9.7 +/- 0.5 units/mg and an antidiuretic potency of 386 +/- 36 units/mg. These values are 2.5 and 120%, respectively, of the corresponding potencies of AVP. The analogue is an antagonist of the in vitro response to oxytocin (pA2 = 7.44 +/- 0.12). dPAVP has an antivasopressor pA2 of 7.45 +/- 0.11. Its antidiuretic potency is 42.2 +/- 2 units/mg, 2.5% that of its parent, 1-[deamino]arginine-vasopressin (dAVP). It is an antagonist of the in vitro response to oxytocin (pA2 value = 6.93 +/- 0.10). dPTyr(Me)AVP has an antivasopressor pA2 of 7.96 +/- 0.05 and an antidiuretic potency of 3.5 +/- 0.5 units/mg. It is also an antagonist of the in vitro oxytocic response to oxytocin (pA2 value = 7.61 +/- 0.14). It is thus one of the most potent vasopressor antagonists reported to date.

In attempting to design an antagonist of the antidiuretic response to arginine-vasopressin (AVP) [1-deaminopenicillamine,4-valine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin (dPVDAVP) was synthesized by the solid-phase method and assayed for antidiuretic, vasopressor, and oxytocic activities. dPVDAVP has an antidiuretic potency of 123 +/- 22 units/mg, one-tenth that of its parent [deamino,4-valine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin (dVDAVP). Like dVDAVP its antidiuretic effect in conscious diabetes insipidus rats is greatly prolonged when compared to AVP. dPVDAVP causes a prolonged inhibition of vasopressor responses to AVP but not to norepinephrine or angiotensin II. It has an antivasopressor pA2 value of 7.82 +/- 0.05 when tested against AVP. Thus the penicillamine substitution at position 1 in dVDAVP increased its antivasopressor activity sixfold (dVDAVP has a pA2 value of 7.03 +/- 0.11). dPVDAVP is thus the most potent vasopressor antagonist yet reported. dPVDAVP was also found to be a potent inhibitor of the in vitro oxytocic response to oxytocin (pA2 value = 7.23 +/- 0.04). dPVDAVP with its potent and specific ability to antagonize the vasopressor effects of AVP should be a useful pharmacological tool with which to explore the possible participation of AVP's potent vasoconstrictor properties in cardiovascular regulation in physiological and pathological states.

Arginine vasotocin (AVT) has been measured in neonatal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and human amniotic fluid using a newly developed specific radioimmunoassay system. There were significant amounts of AVT in all samples. Vasopressin and oxytocin also were measured in the samples and could not account for the levels of vasotocin found. The source and function of these neurohypophyseal peptides in CSF and amniotic fluid remains speculative.

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and deamino-arginine-vasopressin (dAVP) were infused into rats. When the concentrations of the two peptides were steady, the rate of clearance of AVP from the plasma was six times the rate of clearance of alphaAVF. Only 6% of the infused AVP was excreted unchanged in the urine, whereas approximately 100% of the dAVP was excreted. When the infusions were stopped, AVP disappeared from the plasma much more rapidly than dAVP. The plasma concentrations of the two peptides did not decay as simple exponential functions, suggesting that both AVP and dAVP entered a slowly exchanging compartment or compartments during prolonged infusion. These differences in the metabolic clearance of AVP and dAVP may well explain the prolonged antidiuretic effect of dAVP in rats.

A radioiodinated vasopressin antagonist, d(CH2)5[Tyr(NH2)9]AVP has been prepared. Iodination was carried out at the phenyl moiety of the tyrosylamide residue at position 9, followed by HPLC purification. Non-radiolabelled monoiodinated antagonist was used as a reference for identification. 125I-d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2, Tyr(NH2)9]AVP binding appeared to take place with a dissociation constant of 0.28 +/- 0.09 nM (Kd +/- SD) to V1 vasopressin receptors on rat liver membranes.

A variety of structural changes were made in the C-terminals of four potent antidiuretic (V2) antagonists. The parent analogs were all derivatives of [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid)]arginine-vasopressin, d(CH2)5AVP, namely d(CH2)5[D-Phe2,Ile4]AVP, d(CH2)5[D-Ile2,Ile4]AVP, d(CH2)5[D-Tyr(Et)2, Val4]AVP and d(CH2)5[D-Tyr(Et)2,Ile4]AVP. A number of amino acid amides were substituted for the C-terminal 9-glycinamide without reducing their V2-antagonistic potencies in rats. Many non-amino acid structures were also tolerated at the C-terminals of these antagonists and this end of these peptides can be prolonged without interfering with antagonistic potencies. Such altered V2-antagonists may be useful for the development of radioactive ligands, affinity labels and in affinity columns for studies on antidiuretic receptors. These C-terminal modifications also provide useful information for the further development of potent and specific V2-antagonists which can be valuable pharmacological tools and also promise to become useful clinically for the treatment of excessive water retention.

The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, containing the hormones oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) and their associated carrier proteins, the neurophysins (NPS), has been the subject of extensive investigation for more than 40 years. This system has been reinvestigated during the last decade by application of immunocytochemical methods employing the rabbit antisera to the hormones and NPS. In this study we describe the preparation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody to VP and its application in immunohistochemistry. The antibody did not cross-react with OT or arginine vasotocin (AVT). Its antigenic determinants as characterized by absorption with various VP analogs included two aromatic amino acids: Phe in position 3, and to a lesser extent Tyr in 2. Tissue fixation with formaldehyde resulted in inadequate immunostaining as compared to glutaraldehyde, most likely due to interference with the aromatic amino acid determinants by the former fixative.

Four analogues of [1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid),4-valine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin [d-(CH2)5 VDAVP] and four analogues of its L-arginine isomer d(CH2)5 VAVP with O-methyl-, O-ethyl, O-isopropyl, and O-n-propyltyrosine substituents at position 2 were prepared by the solid-phase method using a slightly modified reoxidation procedure following deblocking with sodium in liquid ammonia to overcome losses due to insolubility. These analogues are the following: 1, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)VDAVP;2, d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)VDAVP; 3, d(CH2)5Tyr(i-Pr)VDAVP; 4, d(CH2)5Tyr(n-Pr)VDAVP; 5, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)VAVP; 6, d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)VAVP; 7, d(CH2)5Tyr(i-Pr)VAVP; 8, d(CH2)5Tyr(n-Pr)VAVP. These analogues were tested for agonistic and antagonistic activities in rat antidiuretic and rat vasopressor assay systems. All eight analogues cause a transient antidiuresis when injected intravenously and effectively antagonize antidiuretic responses to subsequent injections of arginine-vasopressin (AVP). They exhibit the following antiantidiuretic pA2 values: 1, 6.68 +/- 0.11; 2, 7.10 +/- 0.08; 3, 6.88 +/- 0.07; 4, 6.67 +/0 0.05; 5, 7.35 +/- 0.06; 6, 7.57 +/- 0.06; 7, 7.32 +/- 0.10; 8, 7.29 +/- 0.07. They are also highly effective antagonists of the vasopressor responses to AVP, with antivasopressor pA2 values in the range of 7.86 to 8.44. These findings indicate tht in this series O-ethyl substitution on the tyrosine at position 2 is optimal for antiantidiuretic potency and that L-arginine is far superior to D-arginine in this regard also. Thus, d(CH2)5Tyr(Et)VAVP with an antiantidiuretic pA2 of 7.57 +/- 0.06 is the most potent of these eight antidiuretic antagonists. These are the first known effective antagonists of in vivo antidiuretic responses to AVP. They are, thus, potentially useful pharmacological tools for studies on the roles of AVP in regulating water balance in normal and pathophysiological states in animals and in humans. They also serve as excellent lead compounds for the design of even more potent antagonists for potential therapeutic use for the treatment of hyponatremia secondary to inappropriate secretion of the antidiuretic hormone (SIADH or the Schwartz-Barter syndrome).

Deamino[4-threonine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin (dTDAVP), deamino[8-D-arginine]vasopressin (dDAVP), [8-D-arginine[vasopressin (DAVP), and deamino-arginine-vasopressin (dAVP) were synthesized by the solid-phase method and tested for their biological activities. dTDAVP has an antidiuretic potency of 793+/-95 units/mg and undetectable vasporessor activity, less than 0.02unit/mg. The antidiuretic-pressor (A/P) ratio of dTDAVP is greater than 39 000. dDAVP has an antidiuretic potency of 1200+/-126 units/mg and a vasopressor potency of 0.39+/-0.02; its A/P ratio is thus 3000. DAVP has an antidiuretic potency of 253+/-44 units/mg, a vasopressor potency of 1.1+/-0.04 units/mg, and an A/P ratio of 240. The A/P ratios of dDAVP and DAVP are much higher than those originally reported. dAVP has an antidiuretic potency of 1745+/-385 units/mg, a vasopressor potency of 346+/-13, and an A/P ratio of 5; values are in general agreement with those in the literature. Threonine subsitution has thus brought about a significant enhancement in antidiuretic specificity, a finding entirely consistent with earlier observations that enhancement of lipophilicity at position 4 alone or in combination in arginine-vasopressin can lead to enhanced antidiuretic specificity.