arginine vasopressin
Quick Summary
Arginine vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a peptide hormone that plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's water balance and regulating blood pressure. It is synthesized in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary gland.1234
Key Functions:
- Water Retention: Vasopressin acts on the kidneys, specifically the collecting ducts, to increase their permeability to water. This allows more water to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream, reducing urine output and concentrating the urine. This is vital for preventing dehydration and maintaining proper cell function by regulating serum osmolality.12
- Blood Pressure Regulation: Vasopressin can cause vasoconstriction, which narrows blood vessels and helps to increase blood pressure. This effect is particularly important in emergency situations, such as significant blood loss, to shunt blood to essential organs like the heart and brain.34
The release of vasopressin is triggered by changes in serum osmolality (the concentration of dissolved particles in the blood) and decreases in blood volume. Specialized cells in the hypothalamus, called osmoreceptors and baroreceptors, detect these changes and signal the hypothalamus to release vasopressin accordingly.14
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