Arginine vasopressin, a hypothalamic peptide hormone, has multiple physiological functions, including body water regulation, control of blood pressure and effects on body temperature, insulin release, corticotropin release, memory and social behaviour. These functions are achieved via at least three specific G-protein-coupled vasopressin receptors. Development of specific vasopressin receptor antagonists in recent years is helping to [...]

The discovery of four major water channels in the kidney, namely aquaporins (AQP) 1, 2, 3 and 4, has allowed a substantial increase in our understanding of renal water regulation in health and disease. This review discusses the renal aquaporin water channels in the urinary dilution and concentrating defects in cardiac failure, cirrhosis, syndrome of [...]

Sodium and water retention is characteristic of edematous disorders including cardiac failure, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, and pregnancy. Nonosmotic vasopressin release has been implicated in the water retention of these edematous disorders. The nonosmotic release of vasopressin is consistently associated with activation of the sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems in both experimental animals and in edematous [...]