Cardiovascular and endocrine responses to 90 degree tilt during a 35-day saturation dive to 46 and 37 ATA.

Introduction: Hyperbaria-induced diuresis is accompanied by decreased basal and stimulated release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and decreased blood volume possibly contributing to the reported orthostatic intolerance. Since hyperosmolality is not a consistent finding, the explanation of blood volume reduction at hyperbaria must involve an osmotic component to the diuresis. Investigations of a possible involvement of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) to the hyperbaric diuresis have revealed mixed results.

Methods: Urinary excretion of electrolytes, AVP, and aidosterone were measured in four male subjects studied at 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA) and at 46 and 37 ATA (0.5 atmospheres pressure O2: 5% N2: remainder He) during a 35-d saturation dive. Also, the supine and 90 degrees tilt-stimulated plasma levels of AVP, plasma renin activity (PRA), and aldosterone, and the suppressed responses of ANP and the cardiovascular responses to tilt were determined at these pressures.

Results: Tilt-stimulated levels of PRA were increased two- to threefold and the AVP response was eliminated throughout hyperbaria, except in two episodes of tilt-induced syncope where AVP was elevated 10- to 20-fold. This pattern supports most previous reports. Contrary to some reports, both supine and tilt-suppressed levels of ANP were reduced by about 50% at all three tilt experiments conducted at hyperbaria compared to predive control values.

Discussion: These results suggest an altered ANP response at pressures of 37 ATA or greater, which is consistent with an appropriate ANP response to blood volume reduction and further suggest that the hyperbaric diuresis is not dependent on increased ANP.