Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01185 (vasopressin)
 23,126 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The hypothalamus has been claimed to be involved in a great number of physiological functions in development, such as sexual differentiation (gender, sexual orientation) and birth, as well as in various developmental disorders including mental retardation, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Kallman's syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome. In this review a number of hypothalamic nuclei have therefore been discussed with respect to their development in health and disease. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the clock of the brain and shows circadian and seasonal fluctuations in vasopressin-expressing cell numbers. The SCN also seems to be involved in reproduction, adding interest to the sex differences in shape of the vasopressin-containing SCN subnucleus and in its VIP cell number. In addition, differences in relation to sexual orientation can be seen in this perspective. The vasopressin and VIP neurons of the SCN develop mainly postnatally, but as premature children may have circadian temperature rhythms, a different SCN cell type is probably more mature at birth. The sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN, intermediate nucleus, INAH-1) is twice as large in young male adults as in young females. At the moment of birth only 20% of the SDN cell number is present. From birth until two to four years of age cell numbers increase equally rapidly in both sexes. After this age cell numbers start to decrease in girls, creating the sex difference. The size of the SDN does not show any relationship to sexual orientation in men. The large neurosecretory cells of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) project to the neurohypophysis, where they release vasopressin and oxytocin into the blood circulation. In the fetus these hormones play an active role in the birth process. Fetal oxytocin may initiate or accelerate the course of labor. Fetal vasopressin plays a role in the adaptation to stress--caused by the birth process--by redistribution of the fetal blood flow. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons of the PVN play a central role in stress response. Thus fetal CRH neurons may play a role in the timing of the moment of birth. Recently, alterations have been described in peptidergic, aminergic and cholinergic transmitters in the hypothalamus in SIDS. Future research will have to establish whether these changes are part of the course of SIDS. A large proportion of the SON and PVN neurons also produce tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). In neonates the majority of TH-immunoreactive neurons colocalizes vasopressin, while in the adult the majority of TH-positive neurons colocalizes oxytocin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Development of the human hypothalamus. 764 57

I describe how the dietary intake of strong ions potentially affects the regulation of ventilation and the PCO2 of body fluids in two ways. First, changing the dietary intake of NaCl can alter the concentration difference between strong cations and strong anions (the [SID] of Stewart) of body fluids. Experimental observations indicate that the [SID] in brain fluids or cerebrospinal fluid ([SID]CSF) could be the stimulus to central chemoreceptors. [SID]CSF consistently predicts ventilatory regulation of PCO2, whereas [H+]CSF does not. PCO2 acts as a stimulus to ventilation independently of [SID]CSF and possibly at higher as well as lower centers of the nervous system. I relate the concept of [SID] regulation of arterial PCO2 to the alphastat hypothesis of protein function, respiratory control, and [H+] homeostasis. Second, altering the dietary intake of NaCl changes the levels of hormones involved in salt and water balance. Angiotensin II acts centrally to stimulate ventilation. Evidence for the roles of both the renal and brain renin-angiotensin systems in respiratory control, and the modulation of respiratory control by vasopressin are reviewed. These peptide systems probably act via circumventricular organs of the brain to affect respiratory control and (or) by changing strong ion concentrations in brain fluids. Questions to be resolved on the role of [SID]CSF and hormones in respiratory adaptations, and experiments required to improve our understanding of the control of ventilation, are addressed in the concluding comments.
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PMID:The physicochemistry of [H+] and respiratory control: roles of PCO2, strong ions, and their hormonal regulators. 773 41

For optimal performance of exercising muscle, the charge state of proteins must be maintained; the pH environment of protein histidine imidazole groups must be coordinated with their pK. During exercise, increasing temperature and osmolality as well as changes in strong ions affect the pK of imidazole groups. Production of strong organic anions also decreases the concentration difference between strong cations and anions (strong ion difference, or [SID]), causing a metabolic acidosis in peripheral tissues. Central chemoreceptors regulate PCO2 in relation to the [SID] of brain fluids to maintain a "constant" brain [H+]. In addition, increased osmolality, angiotensin II, and vasopressin during exercise may stimulate circumventricular organs of the brain and interact with chemical control of ventilation. Changes in [SID] of brain fluids during exercise are negligible compared to systemic decreases in [SID]; thus, regulation of PCO2 to maintain brain [H+] homeostasis cannot simultaneously compensate for greater changes in [SID] in peripheral tissues.
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PMID:Respiratory control during exercise: hormones, osmolality, strong ions, and PaCO2. 800 Mar 57