Microtine rodents provide an excellent model for the study of the neurobiology of social bonds. In this review, we discuss how the presence of a microsatellite sequence in the prairie vole vasopressin receptor gene may determine vasopressin receptor binding patterns in the brain and how these patterns may in turn affect social behavior.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW Vasopressin is one of the most important endogenously released stress hormones during shock. In this review, studies published in the past year that add to our understanding of the use of vasopressin in the ICU are discussed. RECENT FINDINGS Endogenous vasopressin levels are inappropriately low in adults with severe sepsis but not in children with meningococcal septic sh...

This study evaluated whether renal escape from vasopressin-induced antidiuresis is associated with alterations of vasopressin V2 receptor binding in the kidney inner medulla. A radioligand binding assay was developed using a novel iodinated vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist to analyze vasopressin V2 receptor binding in kidney inner medullary tissue from three groups of rats: normal rats mainta...

This review of vasopressin in septic shock differs from previous reviews by providing more information on the physiology and pathophysiology of vasopressin and vasopressin receptors, particularly because of recent interest in more specific AVPR1a agonists and new information from the Vasopressin and Septic Shock Trial (VASST), a randomized trial of vasopressin versus norepinephrine in septic sh...

ecstasy (mdma; 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine) is an illicit drug that has been increasingly abused by young people. its effects include euphoria, enhanced sociability and heightened mental awareness. these come about via the increase of serotonin in both the central nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system. despite the drug’s prevalent abuse, serious or adverse effects are rare. ...

BACKGROUND Milrinone used for acute cardiac insufficiency could be of interest during cardiopulmonary resuscitation because of its positive inotropic effects. In this study, the combination of milrinone-vasopressin was compared with epinephrine and vasopressin, as well as with the combination of epinephrine-vasopressin, in reference to hemodynamics. METHODS Thirty-two pigs underwent ligation ...

We studied the effect of various adrenergic components on vasopressin in groups of anephric rats. Pharmacological interventions included alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade and infusions of sodium nitroprusside to achieve a baseline blood pressure fall similar to that obtained by alpha 1-blockade, followed by hypertonic saline infusion to stimulate vasopressin release and ...

We used neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) gene knockout mice to study the effects of catecholamines and neuronal nitric oxide on vasopressin expression in the hypothalamic neurosecretory centers. nNOS gene deletion did not change the level of vasopressin mRNA in the supraoptic or paraventricular nuclei. In contrast, vasopressin immunoreactivity was lower in nNOS deficient mice than in wild-...

The San Antonio Vasopressin Symposium reviewed substantial accumulated data concerning vasopressin in haemorrhagic, septic, and cardiac arrest shock conditions and found that there is considerable evidence to support the use of vasopressin in overcoming vasopressin deficiency or insufficiency. The value of vasopressin in the setting of trauma requires further investigation. It was concluded tha...