To determine whether vasopressin plays a role in central neural control of cardiovascular function by acting on the locus coeruleus we monitored arterial pressure and heart rate responses to graded injections of vasopressin (1-30 ng, 0.1-0.3 microliter) in the locus coeruleus of conscious, restrained rats. Cannulas were stereotaxically implanted in the locus coeruleus 2-5 days prior to experiment. Injections of vasopressin into the locus coeruleus produced dose-related increases in mean arterial pressure (12 +/- 2 to 57 +/- 6 mmHg) and heart rate (27 +/- 6 to 123 +/- 16 beats/min), which lasted over 1 h at the highest dose. Injection of the antipressor vasopressin antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me) arginine vasopressin (10 ng) into the locus coeruleus blocked the cardiovascular responses to vasopressin. Administration of vasopressin into an area lateral to the locus coeruleus had no effect on mean arterial pressure but produced an increase in heart rate. Equivalent doses of saline, angiotensin II, and norepinephrine (NE) had minimal or opposite (NE) effects on arterial pressure and heart rate. Peripheral alpha-adrenergic blockade with phentolamine and beta-adrenergic blockade with propranolol blocked the cardiovascular responses to injection of vasopressin in the locus coeruleus. These results suggest that vasopressin may act in the region of the locus coeruleus to exert a central action on the cardiovascular system that is mediated by a stimulation of sympathetic outflow.