Influence of asimadoline, a new kappa-opioid receptor agonist, on tubular water absorption and vasopressin secretion in man

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Vasopressin in this randomized controlled trial publication.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of asimadoline, a new kappa-opioid agonist, on renal function and on hormones related to body fluid balance as well as its tolerability in healthy subjects.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 24 volunteers were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, men only.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

The volunteers were allocated by chance, so the Vasopressin group and the comparison group should start out alike.

As a double-blind Vasopressin study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

Some volunteers received a placebo instead of Vasopressin, giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Vasopressin and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP), atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP), endothelin (ET-1) and cAMP were determined by r.i.a. or ELISA.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Acetamides, Analgesics, Opioid, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, Cyclic AMP, Endothelin-1, Kidney Function Tests and Kidney Tubules.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Vasopressin in 24 volunteers.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 8 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2000 (British journal of clinical pharmacology), a journal based in England.

More context: the Vasopressin compound page, all human trials.