Impaired urinary concentration after vasopressin and its gradual correction in hypothalamic diabetes insipidus.

This study utilized rates with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus (D.I.) in order to explore possible mechanisms which prevent full urinary concentration after acute administration of vasopressin in hypothalamic D.I. and which correct this concentrating defect with prolonged therapy.IT WAS FOUND: (a) that the concentrating defect persisted even when the urinary osmolal excretion of D. I. rats was reduced to that of normal animals; (b) that the defect was not corrected more rapidly if larger doses of vasopressin were given; (c) that it persisted even when the D.I. rats were deprived of drinking water after vasopressin was given; (d) that there was osmotic equilibration between urine and renal papilla at a time when the concentrating defect was still evident; and (e) that the correction of the defect was associated with progressive and significant rise of the papillary osmolality. These studies appear to rule out osmotic diuresis, accumulation of exogenous vasopressin, persistent primary polydipsia, or delay in the induction of membrane permeability as causes for the concentrating defect. Rather, subnormal osmolality of the renal papilla, which can be corrected only gradually, accounts for the initial concentrating defect and the long time required for its correction. Reduction of water content and increase of urea content are primarily responsible for restoration of papillary osmolality to normal.