Vasopressin-mediated adrenocorticotropin release increases plasma cortisol concentrations during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Abstract

Vasopressin is a potent stimulus for ACTH secretion, but does not trigger endothelin-1 release from vascular cells during cardiac arrest and CPR. The increased plasma cortisol concentrations caused by the enhanced ACTH release after vasopressin may be one factor contributing to the improved outcome repeatedly observed with vasopressin in animal models of CPR.