Neuronostatin is a recently described neuropeptide that is derived from the somatostatin preprohormone. We have shown previously that neuronostatin led to a biphasic, dose-related increase in mean arterial pressure when injected into the lateral cerebroventricle of adult, male rats. Because neuronostatin depolarized both magnocellular and parvocellular, paraventricular nucleus neurons in hypoth...

Acute renal failure (ARF) is frequently associated with polyuria and urine concentration defects and it is a severe complication of sepsis because it increases the mortality rate. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation has been suggested to provide a useful strategy for the treatment of septic shock. However, the impact on sepsis-induced ARF is still unclear. Therefore, we examined the effect of py...

Release of bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) is associated with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) and a reduced abundance of the vasopressin-regulated aquaporins. To evaluate the role of the vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R), we determined V2R abundance in kidneys from rats subjected to 24-h BUO or 24-h unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) followed by 48-h release. Because angiotensin II...

Zhong M, Parish B, Murtazina DA, Ku C-Y, Sanborn BM. Amino acids in the COOH-terminal region of the oxytocin receptor third intracellular domain are important for receptor function. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 292: E977–E984, 2007. First published December 5, 2006; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00531.2005.—Previously, residue K6.30 in the COOH-terminal region of the third intracellular domain (3iC) of ...

Oxytocin and vasopressin are important modulators of a wide variety of social behaviors, and increasing evidence is showing that these neuropeptides are important organizational effectors of later-life behavior as well. We treated day-old gerbil pups with oxytocin, vasopressin, an oxytocin receptor antagonist, a vasopressin V1a receptor antagonist, or saline control, and then measured received ...

Terlipressin, a synthetic, systemic vasoconstrictor with selective activity at vasopressin-1 (V1) receptors, is a pro-drug for the endogenous/natural porcine hormone [Lys8]-vasopressin (LVP). We investigated binding and receptor-mediated cellular activities of terlipressin, LVP, and endogenous human hormone [Arg8]-vasopressin (AVP) at V1 and vasopressin-2 (V2) receptors. Cell membrane homogenat...

Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) are a heterogeneous group of substances with a high affinity for cannabinoid receptors. Unlike Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), synthetic cannabinoids are incredibly potent, highly productive, have more affinity for the Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), and Cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2), and are designed to accelerate the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol. Also, the...

Substitution of arginine-137 of the vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R) for histidine (R137H-V2R) leads to nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), whereas substitution of the same residue to cysteine or leucine (R137C/L-V2R) causes the nephrogenic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (NSIAD). These two diseases have opposite clinical outcomes. Still, the three mutant receptors were shown to share...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether arginine vasopressin releases endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) from the epicardial coronary artery. METHODS We studied segments of canine left circumflex coronary arteries suspended in organ chambers to measure isometric force. The coronary artery segments were contracted with prostaglandin F2alpha (2 x 10-6M) and exposed to a unique, strong arginine vaso...