Disorders of Vasopressin Flashcards
What two hormones does the posterior pituitary produce?
AVP and Oxytocin
What is the relationship between the hypothalamus and p. pituitary?
Anatomically continuous with the hypothalamus
What connects the hypothalamus and p. pituitary?
supraoptic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei that stalk (long axons)
What does diuresis means?
Production of urine
What is the main physiological action of Vasopressin?
Stimulation of water reabsorption in the renal collecting duct
Concentrates the urine
What does Vasopressin act via?
V2 receptor
How does AVP concentrate urine?
AVP binds to V2 receptor
Triggers intracellular signalling cascade
Results in migration of aquaporin 2 to the apical membrane of the collecting duct
Allows passage of water from tubular lumen (aquaporin 2) back to bloodstream via aquaporin 3
How does the posterior pituitary look on a MRI?
‘bright spot’
not visualised in all healthy individuals
What does AVP stimulate?
ACTH stimulation
We don’t really know why
What 2 things stimulate vasopressin release?
Osmotic
- rise in plasm osmolality sensed by osmoreceptors
Non-Osmotic
- decrease in atrial pressure sensed by atrial sense receptors
What are the special types of nuclei that sit around the 3rd ventricle?
Organum vasculosum & subfornical organ
both nuclei which sit around the 3rd ventricle (‘circumventricular’)
no blood brain barrier – so neurons can respond to changes in the systemic circulation
highly vascularised
neurons project to the supraoptic nucleus - site of vasopressinergic neurons
How do osmoreceptors regulate vasporessoin?
Increase in extracellular sodium
Osmoreceptor around 3rd ventricle senses this change
Senses this because of the change in conc. gradient water flows out of the osmoreceptor causing it to change shape
The change in shape results in increased osmoreceptor firing
Causes AVP release from hypothalamic neurones
How is vasopressin stimulates non-osmotically?
Detect pressure in right atrium
Inhibit vasopressin release via vagal afferents to hypothalamus
Reduction in circulating volume e.g. haemorrhage
Less stretch of the atrial receptors so less inhibition of vasopressin
Why is AVP important following haemorrhage?
Via V2 receptor increased water reabsorption increased circulating volume
Via V1 receptor AVP is a vasoconstrictor
What is the physiological response to water deprivation?
Increased plasma osmolality
Stimulation of osmoreceptors
Causes thirst and increased AVP release
AVP causes increased water reabsorption from renal collecting ducts
Reduces urine volume, increase in urine osmolality
Reduction of plasma osmolality
What are symptoms of diabetes insipidus?
Polyuria
Nocturia
Thirst- often extreme
Polydipsia
What causes diabetes insipidus?
A problem with arginine vasopressin
What causes these symptoms in diabetes mellitus?
Osmotic diuresis
Which form of diabetes is more common?
Diabetes mellitus
What are the two forms of diabetes insipidus?
Cranial (central) diabetes
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus