Properties of [³h]l-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin as a radioligand for vasopressin v2-receptors in rat kidney

[³H]l-Desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin [³H] DDAVP was assessed as a radioligand for vasopressin V2-receptors by studying its membrane-binding characteristics and in vitro autoradiographic localization in rat kidney, a rich source of V2-receptors. [³H]DDAVP bound specifically to a single class of high affinity, low capacity sites in rat medullopapillary membranes. Specific [³H]DDAVP binding at 25 C reached equilibrium after 2 h of incubation and was saturable and linear with protein concentration up to 2.2 mg/ml protein. Saturation analysis gave an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.76 nM. Displacement of [³H] DDAVP binding by unlabeled arginine vasopressin (AVP) and related analogs gave the following order of potency, consistent with that expected for a V2-receptor: DDAVP = AVP – 1-desamino-AVP > lysine vasopressin > oxytocin > [l-(β-mercapto-β,β-cyclopentamethylene-propionic acid, 2-(O-methyl)tyrosine]AVP. The C-terminal metabolites of AVP, (pGlu4Cyt6)AVP-(4–9), and (pGlu⁴Cyt⁶)AVP-(4–8) did not displace [³H]DDAVP binding. No degradation of [³H] DDAVP during incubation could be detected by HPLC analysis. in vitro autoradiography of [³H]DDAVP binding to rat kidney sections showed a very dense localization of displaceable binding over inner and outer medulla, with a much lower density in cortex, consistent with the known major localization of V2- receptors on renal collecting tubules. These studies suggest that [³H]DDAVP is a suitable radioligand for labeling V2-receptors and may be useful in the characterization of vasopressin receptor subtypes in a variety of tissues and in purification of the V2-receptor.