Experiments were performed in conscious chronically instrumented rats to determine the role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the cardiovascular adjustments to acute and chronic increases in plasma osmolality. Animals were implanted with pulsed Doppler flow probes and arterial and venous catheters for the determination of cardiac output, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), and heart rate and for the calculation of total peripheral resistance and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Before and after raising plasma osmolality by either 48-h water deprivation or acute hypertonic saline infusion, specific V1- or V2-vasopressinergic receptor antagonists or vehicle were administered to the animals, and the cardiovascular responses were noted. MABP was significantly elevated in water-deprived animals. These animals also exhibited significantly increased BRS, which was further increased by administration of the V1-receptor antagonist. Animals subjected to acute hypertonic saline infusion also demonstrated increased MABP, although the infusion, unlike water deprivation, did not affect BRS. We observed no significant effects on any other variable measured. We conclude that AVP plays a relatively minor role in the cardiovascular adjustments to acute and chronic hyperosmolality.