The Sound of Evolution
Vasopressin
Mechanism of action:
Vasopressin is an endogenous peptide hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary. At the V2 receptor on principal cells of the renal collecting duct, vasopressin activates the Gs protein-coupled signaling pathway, promoting the insertion of the water channel AQP2 into the apical membrane, increasing water reabsorption, reducing urine volume, and concentrating the urine. At the V1a receptor on vascular smooth muscle, vasopressin activates the Gq/11 protein-coupled signaling pathway, causing vascular smooth muscle contraction and increasing blood pressure. At the V1b receptor in the anterior pituitary, it stimulates the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone.
Reference(s):
1. Bielsky IF et al. (2004). Profound impairment in social recognition and reduction in anxiety-like behavior in vasopressin V1a receptor knockout mice. Neuropsychopharmacology.
2. Wersinger SR et al. (2007). Vasopressin 1a receptor knockout mice have a subtle olfactory deficit but normal aggression. Genes Brain Behav.