Adv Exp Med Biol
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Review
Vasopressin regulates adrenal functions by acting through different vasopressin receptor subtypes.
In mammals, vasopressin is known to be synthesized in the hypothalamus and released in the blood stream at the pituitary level. This neuropeptide is also synthesized and secreted by the adrenal medulla in many species including human. Moreover, agents like acetylcholine and corticotropin releasing factor stimulates its basal secretion. ⋯ The adrenal medulla secretes AVP and exhibits functional vasopressin receptors. The adrenal cortex also possesses functional vasopressin receptors and is in contact with adrenal medulla via "medullary rays". We may thus reasonably conclude that AVP physiologically regulates adrenal gland functions via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms.
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Involvement of AVP in several pathological states is now established and specific modulation of the different AVP receptor subtypes (V1a, V1b and V2) offers new clinical perspectives for treating major diseases. Recent years have marked a turning point with the design and the use of the first nonpeptide vasopressin receptor antagonists expressing various selectively profile. In that field, we report here the characterization of SR 121463A a highly selective, orally-active antagonist of vasopressin V2 receptors in several models in vitro and in vivo. ⋯ In addition, this compound potently antagonized DDAVP extrarenal V2 effects on hemostasis factor release (FVIII, vW and t-PA) in dogs (ID50 approximately 10 micrograms/kg i.v.). Thus, SR 121463A is the most potent and selective, orally-active V2 antagonist yet described. It is a useful ligand for exploring V2 receptors and the therapeutical usefulness of pure V2 aquaretic agents in several water-retaining diseases and congestive heart failure.
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Vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) are cyclic nonapeptides whose actions are mediated by activation of specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) currently classified into V1-vascular (V1R), V2-renal (V2R) and V3-pituitary (V3R) AVP receptors and OT receptors (OTR). The cloning of the different members of the AVP/OT family of receptors now allows the extensive molecular pharmacological characterization of a single AVP/OT receptor subtype in stably transfected mammalian cell lines. The human V1-vascular (CHO-V1), V2-renal (CHO-V2), V3-pituitary (CHO-V3) and oxytocin (CHO-OT) receptors stably expressed in CHO cells display distinct binding profiles for 18 peptide and 5 nonpeptide AVP/OT analogs. ⋯ None of the 22 AVP/OT analogs tested has a better affinity for the human V3R than AVP itself. Several peptide antagonists do not select well between V1R and OTR. These results underscore the need for developing specific and potent analogs interacting specifically with a given human AVP/OT receptor subtype.