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Vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or arginine vasopressin (AVP), is a hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating water and sodium balance in the body. It primarily affects the kidneys, increasing water reabsorption and thus decreasing urine output, and also constricts blood vessels, which can raise blood pressure. Vasopressin is synthesized in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary gland.
Vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or arginine vasopressin (AVP), is a hormone that regulates water and sodium balance in the body. It primarily acts on the kidneys to increase water reabsorption, thereby decreasing urine output, and it also constricts blood vessels to raise blood pressure.
Vasopressin is synthesized in the hypothalamus and is subsequently released from the posterior pituitary gland into the bloodstream.
In healthy individuals, normal serum osmolality ranges from about 285 to 300 milliosmoles per kilogram (mOsm/kg).
Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus are highly sensitive to changes in serum osmolality. An increase or decrease of as little as 1 percent in osmolality can trigger a corresponding increase or decrease in the release of vasopressin to maintain proper fluid balance.
Vasopressin acts on the cells of the collecting ducts in the kidneys. It stimulates these cells to fuse aquaporins (special water channels) with the cell membrane, allowing water to re-enter the circulation. This decreases urine volume and increases the concentration of sodium and chloride in the urine.
Vasopressin and oxytocin evolved from a single primordial neurohypophyseal hormone called vasotocin, which is present in lower vertebrates.
