Vasopressin, a neurohypophyseal peptide hormone, is the endogenous agonist at V 1a , V 1b and V 2 receptors. The most important physiological function of vasopressin is the maintenance of water homeostasis through interaction with V 2 receptors in the kidney. Vasopressin and related compounds are used in various clinical settings such as acute variceal bleeding associated with portal hypertension, septic shock, diabetes insipidus and coagulation disorders. The effect in the former two indications relates to the V 1a receptor, and in the two latter indications the effect relates to the V 2 receptor.Vasopressin and related compounds have demonstrated activity in animal models of portal hypertension, sepsis and septic shock, diabetes insipidus and coagulation disorders. The use of the compounds in animal models is reviewed. Generally, the effect of vasopressin and related compounds in animal models reflect the activity in the clinical setting, but in some cases important species differences exist.Vasopressin is a peptide hormone synthesised in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. The most important function of the hormone is to induce increased water reabsorption from the kidney collecting ducts, hence its other name antidiuretic hormone. Following synthesis the hormone is transported to the posterior pituitary, where it is stored and released to the bloodstream upon appropriate stimulation. The mechanisms involved in the control of the release of vasopressin are related to osmolality in the plasma and to blood volume. Neurones in the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis represent central osmoreceptors (Bourque & Oliet 1997). These neurones send projections to hypothalamic nuclei containing the magnocellular neurosecretory cells where the production and release of vasopressin take place. Upon hyperosmotic stimulation of the central osmoreceptors magnocellular neurosecretory cells are stimulated to release vasopressin to the blood stream. Peripheral osmoreceptors that control vasopressin release are located in the region containing mesenteric and portal vasculature (Bourque et al. 1994). These sites are strategic for the early detection of increases in osmolality after food and fluid intake. Decreased blood volume is detected by arterial and atrial baroreceptors leading to inAuthor for correspondence: Mads Bjelke Petersen, Non-Clinical Development, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, Kay Fiskers Plads 11, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark (fax π45 46 77 12 40, e-mail mabp/nycomed.com). * Paper based on a talk at the symposium entitled 'In vivo pharmacology in drug discovery and development' at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark, September 10, 2004. creased vasopressin release (Thrasher 1994). The osmotic mechanism for regulation of vasopressin secretion is sensitive to very small increases of plasma osmolality (2% increase causes maximal antidiuresis) whereas 15-20% fall in arterial pressure is required to induce maximal antidiuresis (Baylis 1989). In mo...