ABSTRACT. The effect of vasopressin was compared with that of the established vasopressor epinephrine in experimentally induced hemorrhagic shock. After rapid crystalloid resuscitation in a ratio of three volumes of 0.9% saline to one volume of blood (3:1 crystalloid resuscitation), six dogs were given 0.4 IU/kg vasopressin and another six dogs were given 0.1 mg/kg epinephrine. Five dogs in the control group were given fluid resuscitation in the same manner as above without administration of any drugs. Administration of vasopressin increased diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) from 45.0 ± 4.9 to 91.2 ± 9.6 mmHg within 5 min, compared with epinephrine from 46 ± 4.0 to 51.8 ± 7.7, and control from 47.3 ± 7.5 to 46.3 ± 7.3. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP) did not increase significantly following vasopressin compared with epinephrine and control group. Results of DAP and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) suggested that vasopressin administration was vasoconstrictive after fluid resuscitation in decompensatory hemorrhagic shock in dogs, whereas epinephrine did not compared with control. In addition, epinephrine did not affect the cardiac index (CI) and SVRI, while a significant decrease in CI and increase in SVRI were observed in vasopressin group. The pressor effect of epinephrine in the vascular system was abrupt and only lasted a short period of time (within 5 min), while that of vasopressin was steady and lasted for more than 1 hr, especially regard to in DAP. When compared with epinephrine, vasopressin can be a more effective and safer choice in patients with severe hemorrhagic shock. KEY WORDS: canine, epinephrine, hemodynamics, hemorrhagic shock, vasopressin.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 68(9): 967-972, 2006 In the late phase of hemorrhagic shock, the compensation mechanism fails to recover blood flow and global tissue perfusion is severely compromised. Cardiovascular support drugs are indicated for the cases where aggressive intravascular volume resuscitation has not been sufficient to increase cardiac output (CO), blood pressure, and oxygen use [17]. Positive inotropic drugs, such as dobutamine, dopamine [16], and epinephrine [14] increase stroke volume and cardiac output. Dopamine and epinephrine also possess vasopressor action. However, the use of catecholamine has some disadvantages, including increasing myocardial oxygen demand more than delivery, predisposing the myocardium to arrhythmias, and producing lactic acidosis [20].Vasopressin has been identified as a treatment that effectively restores circulation in the late phase of hemorrhagic shock in cases unresponsive to blood replacement and catecholamines in dogs [15]. Moreover, vasopressin enabled short-and long-term survival in a porcine model of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock after penetrating liver trauma [23,24] and has been successfully used in a small number of patients with intra-abdominal bleeding and subsequent shock that was unresponsive to volume replacement [23]. Despite reports of successful resuscitation with vasopressin, vasopressin has n...