To determine whether vasopressin (AVP) affects vasoconstrictor responses to electrical stimulation of sympathetic nerves or i.a. norepinephrine (NE), changes in perfusion pressure were measured during lumbar sympathetic nerve stimulation (LSNS, 1-8 Hz), or administration of NE (50-200 ng), in the isolated constant-flow perfused hind limb of chloralose-anesthetized rabbits (n = 7), before and after i.a. infusion of AVP (0.65 mU/kg/min). AVP significantly potentiated responses to LSNS (relative potency (RP) = 1.59) and to NE (RP = 5.17). The potentiation of LSNS and NE by AVP infusion was abolished by the AVP V1 antagonist, d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2]AVP, 400 ng, total dose (n = 6). Because there was a significant difference between the RP of LSNS (stimulation of both preganglionic and postganglionic nerves) and NE (direct effect on the vascular smooth muscle), we verified whether this difference might represent disparate actions of AVP on the ganglia and/or sympathetic neuroeffector sites. To evaluate responses to stimulating only the postganglionic sympathetic nerves, we repeated the above study in animals pretreated with a supramaximal dose of the ganglionic blocking agent hexamethonium (25 mg/kg i.v.). After ganglionic blockade the responses to LSNS were reduced to 22% of control. In the presence of ganglionic blockade, AVP potentiated responses to LSNS (RP = 4.09) (n = 6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)