The Biology of Vasopressin

Vasopressins are evolutionarily conserved peptide hormones. Mammalian vasopressin functions systemically as an antidiuretic and regulator of blood cardiac flow essential for adapting to terrestrial environments. Moreover, acts centrally a neurohormone involved in social parental behavior stress response. Vasopressin synthesis several cell types, storage intracellular vesicles, release response physiological stimuli highly regulated mediated by three distinct G protein coupled receptors. Other receptors may bind or cross-bind vasopressin. is spatially temporally through transcriptional post-transcriptional mechanisms, sex, tissue, cell-specific receptor expression. Anomalies signaling have been observed polycystic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, neuropsychiatric conditions. Growing knowledge the central biological roles has enabled pharmacological advances treat these conditions targeting defective systemic pathways utilizing specific agonists antagonists.