Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) enhances reflex buffering of its own pressor response, thus attenuating its vasoconstrictor potential in vivo. To investigate the extent to which this effect of AVP is mediated by V1 or V2 receptors, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) changes were examined in response to graded injections of AVP or [Phe2,Orn8]oxytocin, a potent, selective V1-receptor agonist, in the absence and presence of infusion of [Val4,D-Arg8]VP, a selective V2-receptor agonist. Responses were compared in intact and autonomically blocked conscious rats. During autonomic blockade with methscopolamine and hexamethonium, the pressor sensitivities to AVP and [Phe2,Orn8]oxytocin were similarly increased. Infusion of the V2-receptor agonist had no effect by itself on MAP or HR in conscious intact rats. It also did not alter the pressor responses to the V1 agonist, in either intact or autonomically blocked rats. In the presence of the V2 agonist, the decrease in heart rate induced by the V1 agonist was enhanced. These results indicate that reflex buffering of the pressor response to AVP in the conscious rat is mediated by V1 and not V2 receptors. However, V2 receptors may be involved in modulating the heart rate response to AVP.
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PMID:Baroreflex buffering of pressor response to vasopressin is mediated by V1, not V2, receptors in conscious rats. 844 90

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been shown to have a unique sensitization effect whereby repeated injection of AVP into a lateral cerebral ventricle or a mediobasal region of the rat forebrain below the lateral septum and including the anterior hypothalamus referred to as the ventral septal area, causes enhanced motor responses to the ligand. To elucidate possible neuronal mechanisms responsible for AVP sensitization, 1) we determined the dose and the time required for the development and expression of AVP sensitization, and 2) we tested the hypotheses that AVP sensitization may result in a) alteration of septal AVP V1 receptor affinity or number, and/or b) alteration of septal AVP V1 receptor signal transduction (phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis) mechanisms. Our behavioral data show that the magnitude of AVP sensitization varies with dose and time, and the effect is dependent on the time interval between injections, in that an initial intracerebroventricular AVP injection enhances the sensitivity of the animals to the motor effects of similar AVP injections given 6 h to 6 days later but not to injections given hourly or weekly. No changes in septal AVP binding site density and affinity, as measured by [3H]AVP binding to septal synaptic plasma membrane, were found in sensitized animals; [3H]inositol monophosphate stimulation in response to AVP in septal slices, however, was found to be significantly enhanced. This enhanced [3H]inositol monophosphate stimulation appears specific to a V1-type receptor because it was significantly reduced in the presence of the V1 receptor antagonist, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP, and was not found using oxytocin or the V2 receptor agonist, DDAVP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Arginine vasopressin-induced sensitization in brain: facilitated inositol phosphate production without changes in receptor number. 848 41

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) acts synergistically with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to stimulate ACTH release from the anterior pituitary. In a previous study of bilateral simultaneous inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) sampling in healthy human subjects, we observed lateralized ACTH secretion, suggesting lateralized secretion of an ACTH-regulating hypothalamic factor. To investigate this possibility, we measured ACTH, CRH, AVP, and oxytocin (OT) levels in the IPS and the peripheral circulation in nine normal volunteers, before and after 1 microgram/kg i.v. bolus ovine CRH (oCRH). At baseline, ACTH, AVP, and OT exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) two to threefold intersinus gradient (ISG), indicating the existence of a dominant petrosal sinus. Endogenous CRH was undetectable in all samples. Despite similar exogenous oCRH levels in both petrosal sinuses, oCRH caused a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the ACTH ISG (15.8 +/- 5.6, mean +/- SEM), suggesting increased responsiveness of one dominant side of the anterior pituitary. This was associated with an ipsilateral CRH-induced AVP release and a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the AVP ISG (8.6 +/- 2.3), suggesting lateralized AVP secretion by the hypothalamus. Furthermore, the increased AVP ISG after oCRH correlated strongly with the ACTH ISG (r = 0.92, P < 0.01). oCRH administration did not affect OT. These findings suggest that there is a dominant petrosal sinus in healthy volunteers that appears to reflect a dominant side of the adenohypophysis, characterized by increased functional activity and/or responsiveness of the pituitary corticotrophs. This may reflect lateralized hypothalamic and/or suprahypothalamic function resulting in CRH-responsive lateralized secretion of AVP from parvocellular and/or magnocellular axons in the median eminence and the posterior pituitary. Although the functional and teleologic significance of these findings remains to be investigated, our data suggest a novel mechanism for CRH-mediated ACTH release, namely CRH-induced release of AVP which then enhances CRH action on the corticotrophs. Furthermore, our data represent the first direct evidence for the concept of brain lateralization with respect to neuroendocrine secretion.
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PMID:Inferior petrosal sinus sampling in healthy subjects reveals a unilateral corticotropin-releasing hormone-induced arginine vasopressin release associated with ipsilateral adrenocorticotropin secretion. 862 93

The entire coding region of an ovine endometrial oxytocin receptor (OTR) cDNA was generated by PCR, subcloned into the SV40 major late promoter expression vector pSVLJ and transiently expressed in Cos-7 cells. A specific OTR antagonist, 125I-labelled d(CH2)5 [Tyr(Me)2,Thr4,Tyr-NH2(9)]-vasotocin (OTA), was used to describe the binding kinetics of the expressed receptor which had a Kd of 4.5 nM and Bmax of 2.4 nM/mg protein (6.8 x 10(5) receptor molecules/transfected cell). The functional properties of the expressed OTR were determined by measuring oxytocin-induced phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis. Oxytocin increased PI turnover in OTR transfected cells fourfold in excess of residual endogenous activity, and stimulated phospholipase C (PLC) activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner, confirming that the expressed OTR cDNA was functional. Arginine vasopressin also stimulated PI turnover in a dose-dependent manner; thresholds of responses to oxytocin and arginine vasopressin were 10(-9) M and 10(-7) M respectively. OTA did not increase PI turnover and competitively inhibited the oxytocin-induced response. Direct activation of the pathway by aluminium fluoride and guanosine (3'-O-thio)-triphosphate (GTP gamma S) confirmed that the OTR was G-protein linked. Co-incubation of GTP gamma S with oxytocin shifted the PI-response threshold from 10(-7) M to 10(-9) M and significantly increased the level of response, suggesting that maximum PI turnover was agonist-dependent. The G-protein involved in mediating the signal transduction pathway was pertussis toxin-insensitive and, therefore, probably a member of the Gq subfamily. The PLC inhibitor, U73122, had no effect on oxytocin-induced PI turnover, consistent with the response in endometrial tissue. These data suggest that the signalling pathway mediated by expressed OTR is similar to that attributed to OTR occupancy in ovine endometrium.
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PMID:Functional characterisation of an ovine endometrial oxytocin receptor cDNA transiently expressed in Cos-7 cells. 869 Oct 97

The effects of arginine vasotocin (AVT) were examined in isolated gar arteries (afferent branchial, ABA; conus arteriosus, CA; ventral aorta, VA) and veins (hepatic, HV; intestinal; ovarian). AVT (10(-11) - 10(-7) M) had no effect in CA, produced contraction in ABA and VA and stimulated relaxation in veins. In precontracted HV, AVT relaxation was dose-dependent, long-lived (> 30 min) and reduced total tension by 49.0 +/- 10.7%. EC50s for AVT, arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, desmopressin, and isotocin in gar HV were 1.4 +/- 0.3, 3.6 +/- 0.2, 5.3 +/- 1.7, 11.0 +/- 6.5, and 19.0 +/- 0.4 nM, respectively. AVT was more potent compared with isotocin. Strength of relaxation (percentage decrease in total tension) of AVT and structural analogs was similar (range = 32.5 to 55%). Endothelium removal did not alter percentage relaxation or sensitivity to AVT in HV. AVT relaxation was not inhibited by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors or propranolol or reversed by addition of methylene blue but it was significantly enhanced by indomethacin (10(-5) M). Arginine vasopressin-receptor antagonists (V1- or V2-type selectivity; 10(-6) M) were equally effective inhibitors, each blocked 99% of AVT relaxation. Forskolin (10(-6) M) and papaverine (10(-4) M) relaxed precontracted gar arteries and veins. The adenylyl cyclase inhibitors SQ 22536 and MDL 12,330A (10(-5) M) produced transient contraction and stable relaxation, respectively, but did not inhibit AVT-induced relaxation in HV. Atrial natriuretic peptide (3 x 10(-8) M) and sodium nitroprusside (10(-4) M) had no effect in precontracted HV. AVT acts directly on gar venous smooth muscle cells via a nonclassical AVP receptor, possibly by increasing [cAMP]. AVT is a potent vasoconstrictor in vertebrate vasculature but produces a novel relaxation in gar veins.
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PMID:Arginine vasotocin relaxation of gar (Lepisosteous spp.) hepatic vein in vitro. 892 55

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) produced in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) plays a role in establishing neuroendocrine rhythms and, in particular, in regulating the corticotrope axis rhythm. It has recently been shown that AVP from SCN inhibits corticosteroid release. In order to investigate the influence of suprachiasmatic AVP on the different peptidergic systems through the hypothalamus, SCN neurons containing AVP were functionally lesioned by using toxins associated with a cytotoxic monoclonal antibody (MAb) raised against AVP. Six days later, the AVP contents and AVP mRNA were measured in different hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic sites. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) concentration was also measured in plasma. Microinjection of the AVP-MAb/toxin mixture into SCN brought about a significant decrease in the AVP expression in SCN. This is demonstrated by the decrease in the AVP immunoreactive content (24%, P < 0.01) and the decrease of AVP hybridized mRNA (33%, P < 0.01). This points to the efficiency of the microinjection in decreasing the production of AVP in the injection area. Modifications of the AVP contents in the two subdivisions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were also observed. AVP contents decreased in the parvocellular subdivision (pPVN); this is coherent with the AVP depletion in SCN since pPVN is the major site of the SCN hypothalamic efferences. AVP content and AVP mRNA increased in the magnocellular subdivision (mPVN); this also confirms the difference in AVP synthesis regulation according to the PVN subdivisions. The microinjection did not modify AVP expression in supraoptic nuclei or oxytocin (OT) immunoreactive content in the main hypothalamic OT containing sites. Plasma ACTH values were double (P < 0.02) the values measured under non-specific IgG treatment 10 hr after lights on. This probably resulted from the stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system since corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA increased simultaneously by 24% (P < 0.05) in the PVN and the immunoreactive CRH content of the median eminence significantly decreased (26%, P < 0.05). Overall, our data confirm that AVP produced in the SCN inhibits the CRH-adrenocorticotrope axis in normal conditions, probably because of SCN projections of AVP neurons on the PVN.
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PMID:Arginine vasopressin (AVP) depletion in neurons of the suprachiasmatic nuclei affects the AVP content of the paraventricular neurons and stimulates adrenocorticotrophic hormone release. 940 18

Arginine vasopressin (AVP), a hormone of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, was also localized in peripheral tissues. To explore AVP precursor gene expression at the vascular level, we have investigated gene transcripts by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing in aortic tissue of normal rat and in the particular genetic condition of the homozygous (di/di) Brattleboro rat strain suffering from diabetes insipidus. In these rats, a gene deletion induces an unprocessed AVP precursor in the hypothalamus with undetectable immunoreactive AVP, in contrast to the detection of immunoreactive material at the vascular level. In normal rats, using primers complementary to exon 1 and 3 of the AVP neurophysin precursor gene, RT-PCR and sequencing revealed transcripts of the expected size from aorta, mesenteric artery and hypothalamus with normal, authentic sequences. Removal of aortic endothelium severely reduced the amounts of transcripts, suggesting their main endothelial origin. In Brattleboro rats, transcripts of similar size were obtained from aorta and hypothalamus and sequencing revealed the homozygous deletion (deltaG316) in both tissues, identical to that found in genomic DNA (deltaG1864). While sequence data from normal rats provide the first direct evidence for the presence of AVP precursor transcripts in rat aortic tissue, identification of the deleted sequence of transcripts in Brattleboro rat aorta suggests that tissue-specific mechanisms are operating for the expression of vasopressin neurophysin precursor in peripheral vascular tissue compared with the hypothalamus.
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PMID:Identification and sequence analysis of arginine vasopressin mRNA in normal and Brattleboro rat aortic tissue. 970 89

Arginine vasopressin is the main hormone involved in the regulation of body fluid osmolality. The hormone is released by the posterior pituitary whenever water deprivation causes an increased plasma osmolality or whenever the cardiovascular system is challenged by hypovolaemia and/or hypotension. The main site of action of this hormone is the renal collecting duct, but vasopressin is also a potent vasopressor and neurotransmitter, it has a role in the secretion of corticotrophin, in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, temperature and other visceral functions. Vasopressin also promotes the release of coagulation factors by vascular endothelium and increases platelet aggregability. In addition to its classical contractile effect on uterine myometrial and mammary glandular myoepithelial cells, oxytocin acts as neurotransmitter, stimulates endometrial prostaglandin production, pituitary prolactin secretion, luteolysis, sperm transport and natriuresis, and may play a role in immune function. Sensorial stimuli arising from the cervix and vagina as well as stimulation of the breast can induce secretion of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary. There are many vasopressin and oxytocin analogues (agonists and antagonists) that are synthetized with the goal of increasing duration of action and selectivity for the receptor subtypes, while non-peptide antagonists are orally active. The oxytocin and the vasopressin V1a, V1b and V2 receptors have recently been cloned and shown to form a sub-family within the large superfamily of G-protein-linked receptors. Renal V2 receptors mediate vasopressin-induced water reabsorption via induction of intracellular cAMP production in collecting duct cells. Most remaining actions of vasopressin on blood vessel constriction, liver glycogenolysis, platelet adhesion, adrenal angiotensin II secretion and certain brain functions are mediated via V1a-type receptors that are coupled to a Gq/11 protein. V1 receptor activation leads to stimulation of phospholipases C, D and A2, and an increase in intracellular calcium. Vasopressin stimulates pituitary corticotrophin release via a third vasopressin receptor type (V1b) which is present in corticotrophs. Oxytocin induces myometrial contraction, endometrial prostaglandin F2a production, mammary gland milk ejection, renal natriuresis and specific sexual, affilitative and maternal behaviours via oxytocin receptors which are also coupled to a G1/11 protein. Although only one oxytocin receptor type has been cloned so far, recent binding studies indicate that uterine endometrial oxytocin receptors may constitute a distinct receptor subtype. Expression of oxytocin receptors have relevant up- and down-regulation by oestrogens and progesterone.
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PMID:[Hormones of the posterior region of the hypophyseal gland]. 986 66

Arginine vasopressin (AVP), a hormone of the hypothalamic pituitary axis, has been described in several peripheral tissues, including pancreas. To demonstrate the ectopic synthesis of AVP at the pancreatic level, we explored the expression of the AVP-neurophysin-II (AVP-NP-II) precursor gene by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing and attempted to localise the peptide by immunocytochemistry in normal rat pancreas. Primers designed at the 3' and 5' ends of the AVP-NP-II gene, RT-PCR, and automatic sequencing of PCR products from rat pancreas revealed transcripts of the predicted size with an identical sequence to those from the hypothalamus. In addition, AVP antiserum revealed immunoreactive material of perivascular localisation. These data provide the first direct evidence for the presence of AVP transcripts in rat pancreatic tissue, whereas concurrent immunodetection of this hormone offers further support for the potential role of ectopic AVP in local regulation of the secretory activity of the pancreas.
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PMID:Identification by RT-PCR and immunolocalization of arginine vasopressin in rat pancreas. 1063 74

Arginine vasopressin- (AVP) and oxytocin- (OXT) secreting magnocellular neurons undergo gross structural changes with chronic physiological stimulation. Here, we investigated subcellular aspects of plasticity in rat neurohypophysial terminals during dehydration. Ultrastructural analyses demonstrated that chronic dehydration by 2% NaCl drinking for 7 days significantly decreased the numbers of neurosecretory granules and microvesicles but not the numbers of mitochondria. Moreover, in dehydrated rats, terminals making neurovascular contacts enlarged, whereas terminals in apposition to astrocytes, i.e., neuroglial contacts, became smaller. Western blot analyses demonstrated significant decreases in the levels of F3 and Thy-1 together with those of AVP- and OXT-neurophysin, but the levels of synaptophysin, SNAP-25, and GAP-43 were unchanged. Both F3 and Thy-1 were recovered in the buffer-insoluble pellet, and phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C treatment released both molecules from the crude membrane fraction, indicating that they are attached to terminal membranes by glycosylphosphatidyl inositol anchors. Confocal microscopic observations demonstrated that F3 colocalized with Thy-1 in the same terminals of magnocellular neurons. In contrast, the level of calretinin, a Ca(2+) binding protein was significantly increased with chronic dehydration. Thus, the present results suggest that enhancement of neurovascular contacts results from rearrangement of terminal-astrocyte and terminal-vessel contacts rather than enlargement or sprouting of magnocellular terminals themselves. The down-regulation of F3 and Thy-1 may contribute to enhancement of neurovascular contacts that accompany increased peptide release during dehydration.
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PMID:Plasticity of neurohypophysial terminals with increased hormonal release during dehydration: ultrastructural and biochemical analyses. 1134 90


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