Abstract
Vasopressin is a ubiquitous molecule playing an important role in a wide range of physiological processes thereby implicated in the pathomechanism of many disorders. Its effect is well characterized through V2 receptors, which regulates the water resorption in kidney, while its vasoconstrictory effect through V1a receptor also received a lot of attention in the maintenance of blood pressure during shock. However, the most striking is its central effect both through the V1b receptors in stress-axis regulation as well as through V1a receptors regulating many aspects of our behavior (e.g., social behavior, learning and memory). Vasopressin has been implicated in the development of depression, due to its connection with chronic stress, as well as schizophrenia because of its involvement in social interactions and memory processes. Epigenetic changes may also play a role in the development of these disorders. The possible mechanism includes DNA methylation, histone modification and/or micro RNAs, and these possible regulations will be in the focus of our present review.
Highlights
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
aquaporin 2 (AQP2) molecules intracellularly from the apical membrane, followed by a marked decrease in protein expression. Both systematically and centrally injected antagomir-132 decreased the expression of AVP mRNA in the hypothalamus, which could be reversed by the administration of ddAVP
The effect was confirmed in vivo as well, as rats treated with the extract had an increased mRNA expression of CaSR mRNA and miRNA-137 measured by RT-PCR ([73]; see an excellent book chapter of the molecular mechanisms: [74])
Summary
Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is a nonapeptide that is synthesized mainly in the supraoptic (SON), paraventricular (PVN) and suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. In the PVN, the main center of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA, known as stress axis), in the parvocellular cells AVP can be found together with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), the main hypothalamic regulator of the axis [8]. Via this way, the AVPergic system participates in the regulation of several physiological processes—beside the above mentioned—from stress hormone release through memory formation [9], thermo- and pain regulation to social behavior [4]. Stressors on this background, at our “Achilles heel”, i.e., least resilient organ
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
