To understand the molecular mechanism of action of the novel class of diuretic agents, the antidiuretic hormone antagonists ["aquaretics" (specific water-losing activity as caused by vasopressin antagonists, as distinguished from the saluresis of conventional diuretics)], in the dog studies were made of the properties of the vasopressin-responsive adenylate cyclase system and the antagonist potencies of the vasopressin analogs [1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-(O-ethyl)tyrosine,4-valine,8-arginine]vasopressin; [1-(beta-mercapto-beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-D-phenylalanine,4-valine,8-arginine]vasopressin; and [1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopenta-methylenepropionic acid), 2-D-(O-ethyl)tyrosine,4-valine,8-arginine]vasopressin (SK&F 100398, 101071 and 101498, respectively) using plasma membranes prepared from cortex, medulla and papilla of dog kidney. It was observed that the greatest sensitivity for vasopressin was in the papilla (concentration of 8-arginine vasopressin required for 50% activation of adenylate cyclase [Kact] was 2.0 X 10(-9)M, 1.1 X 10(-9)M and 5.1 X 10(-10) M in the cortex, medulla and papilla, respectively). The addition of 10(-5)M GTP did not alter the Kact of the cortex but enhanced 10-fold the vasopressin sensitivity of the papilla to 5.2 X 10(-11) M. The vasopressin analogs were competitive antagonists of vasopressin-stimulated adenylate cyclase of cortex and papilla with the greatest potency for the papillary enzyme (Ki in papilla was 3.6 X 10(-9)M, 4.6 X 10(-9)M and 1.0 X 10(-9)M for SK&F 100398, 101071 and 101498, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)