Seven normal subjects underwent sequential 20-min infusion of arginine vasopressin (AVP) at 0.5 and 2 ng/(kg.min) and a complete right-side heart hemodynamic evaluation during the study to analyze the effect of this hormone on atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) secretion in humans and to elucidate whether this effect was primary or secondary to the hemodynamic or hormonal changes induced by AVP. Plasma ANF levels increased at the end of the first (P less than 0.05) and second (P less than 0.01) infusion periods. No significant changes in mean arterial, pulmonary artery, right and left atrial pressures were recorded during the study. Cardiac output (P less than 0.05) and heart rate (P less than 0.05) decreased, while total vascular resistances (P less than 0.05) increased with respect to basal values in both infusion periods. Plasma renin activity decreased (P less than 0.01) at the end of the infusion, while plasma aldosterone, epinephrine and norepinephrine showed no significant changes. We conclude that arginine vasopressin increases plasma ANF levels in humans and that this effect cannot be ascribed to hemodynamic or hormonal changes induced by this hormone, suggesting a direct effect of vasopressin on the atrial myocyte.