Because of the presence of a high density of vasopressin receptors in the epithelial cells of porcine seminal vesicles similar to the V2 vasopressin receptors of renal tubules, human seminal vesicles and kidney were investigated using quantitative binding and adenylate cyclase studies. Tissues were obtained at surgery from 17 patients with urologic diseases. A homogeneous class of vasopressin b...

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is associated with a urine-concentrating defect attributed to renal cystic changes. As PKD genes are expressed in the brain, altered central release of arginine vasopressin could also play a role. In order to help determine this we measured central and nephrogenic components of osmoregulation in 10 adults and 10 children with ADPKD, all with ...

Eleven very low birthweight babies being ventilated for respiratory problems during the first week of life developed air leaks on 22 occasions. On 16 out of 19 occasions the infants showed increases in urinary excretion of vasopressin after these events and on 10 occasions out of 13 there was a rise in the plasma arginine vasopressin concentration. The peripheral signs of the syndrome of inappr...

The brain is both the source and the recipient of peptide signals. The question is: Do endogenous, blood-borne peptide molecules influence brain function? Brain regions with the tight capillaries of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) extract low but measurable amounts of labeled peptide molecules from an intracarotid bolus injection. In the rat, the extraction fractions of beta-casomorphin-5, DesGly...

Use of arginine vasopressin in the management of refractory vasodilatory shock has been associated with development of ischaemic skin lesions. Because of the increasing popularity of arginine vasopressin, it is important to evaluate its effects on microcirculatory blood flow. Such studies are crucial if we are to appreciate the microcirculatory consequences of our various resuscitation strategi...

The synthesis of oxytocin (I), arginine-vasopressin (2)) and lysine-vasopressin (3-5) has opened the way for the synthesis of analogues of the natural hormones, thus affording an opportunity to study the relationship between structure and biological activity in these hormones. One of the most interesting analogues thus far prepared is arginine-vasotocin, an octapeptide amide containing the ring...