The specific V2 agonist 1-deamino [8-D-arginine]-vasopressin (dDAVP), used for treatment of central diabetes insipidus, binds to vasopressin V2 receptors from human, bovine and rat kidney with an affinity that is similar to that of the natural hormone vasopressin. In contrast, the V1 receptors and the porcine V2 receptor do not tolerate a D-arginine in position 8 of vasopressin. By site directed mutagenesis of the cloned bovine and porcine V2 receptors we identified a residue (Asp-103) in the first extracellular loop of vasopressin receptors which is responsible for high affinity binding of dDAVP.