The major findings of the present study are that first-line therapy with the selective V2R-antagonist (a) stabilized cardiopulmonary hemodynamics as effectively, (b) increased cardiac filling pressures, (c) attenuated metabolic acidosis, (d) limited myocardial and renal dysfunction, (e) reduced AVP plasma levels, (f) attenuated tissue injury secondary to nitrosative stress, and (g) slightly prolonged survival in early volume-resuscitated, hyperdynamic ovine septic shock when compared with placebo and AVP infusion. This evidence concerns the gene AVP and septic shock.