Vasopressin disorders Flashcards
Differences between the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary
Posterior anatomically and embryologically distinct from anterior
Posterior continuous with hypothalamus
Posterior not dependent on blood/portal supply
what are the posterior pituitary hormones
arginine vasopressin, oxytocin
What are hypothalamic magnocellular neurons
Contain AVP, oxytocin
Long, originate in supraoptic nuclei, paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei
Nuclei–>stalk–>posterior pituitary
what is the main physiological action of AVP
stimulation of water reabsorption in the renal collecting duct
This concentrates urine
what receptor does AVP bind to for water reabsorption
V2
what receptor does AVP bind to for vasoconstriction
V1
what is the smaller effects of AVP
vasoconstriction, stimulates ACTH release from anterior pituitary
How does vasopressin concentrate urine?
AVP from bloodstream binds to V2 receptors on basolateral membrane of renal collecting duct
This stimulates a signal cascade (G-protein binds adenylyl cyclase–>cAMP–>upregulates protein kinase A)
This stimulates Aquaporin-2 in cell to move to apical membrane, allowing water to enter cell, diffuse across and exit basolateral membrane via Aquaporin 3 into bloodstream
how do you see the posterior pituitary on MRI?
posterior bright spot, not always visible in healthy individuals
Stimulation for vasopressin release
osmotic- rise in plasma osmolality sensed by osmoreceptors
non-osmotic- decrease in atrial pressure sensed by atrial stretch receptors
where are atrial stretch receptors found?
right atrium
what are the organum vasculosum and subfornical organ important for?
osmotic receptors
nuclei which sit around 3rd ventricle (circumventricular) with neurones projecting to the supraoptic nucleus (site of vasopressinergic neurones)
no BBB - detect changes to systemic circulation
Highly vascularised
what is the process for osmotic stimuli?
a rise in plasma osmolality (increase in extracellular Na+) causes water to flow out of the osmoreceptors
osmoreceptor shrinks, triggering increased osmoreceptor firing
increased osmoreceptor firing causes AVP release from hypothalamic neurones in supraoptic nucleus
what is the process for non-osmotic stimuli?
atrial stretch receptors in right atrium detect rise in pressure
This inhibits AVP release via vagal afferents to hypothalamus
Reduction in circulating volume eg haemorrhage means less stretch of these atrial receptors, so less inhibition of vasopressin
why is vasopressin released following a haemorrhage?
Vasopressin release results in increased water reabsorption in the kidney (some restoration of circulating volume) V2 receptors
vasoconstriction via V1 receptors
(NB renin-aldo system will also be important, sensed by JG apparatus)
what is the physiological response to water deprivation?
increased plasma osmolality -> stimulation of osmoreceptors -> thirst, increased AVP release -> increased water reabsorption from renal collecting ducts -> reduced urine volume, increase in urine osmolality -> reduction in plasma osmolality (back to normal ish)