Vasopressin and Oxytocin: From Genes to Clinical Applications: Volume 139(Volume 139 Progress in Brain Research)

The neurohypophysial hormones vasopressin and oxytocin are involved in body fluid homeostasis and inreproductive function. This book presents a large variety of review articles on genetic control and molecular processing of the hormones and their receptors, regulatory mechanisms of the activity of vasopressin and oxytocin neurons and on physiological functions of peripheral targets such as the kidney, cardiovascular system, mammary gland and uterus. Providing both basic and clinical aspects, this work is a good resource to specialized researchers as well as readers unfamiliar with the field.

Table of Contents:
List of contributors. Preface. 1. The magnocellular neuronal phenotype: cell-specific gene expression in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (H. Gainer et al.). 2. Estrogen modulates oxytocin gene expression in regions of the rat supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei that contain estrogen receptor-&bgr; (P.J. Shughrue, T.L. Dellovade, I. Merchenthaler). 3. Short term modulation of GABAA-receptor in the adult female rat (A.B. Brussaard, J.J. Koksma). 4. Cholesterol and steroid hormones: modulators of oxytocin receptor function (G. Gimpl et al.). 5. Central vasopressin systems and steroid hormones (A. Kalsbeek, I.F. Palm, R.M. Buijs). 6. Regulation of renal salt and water transporters during vasopressin escape (C.A. Ecelbarger et al.). 7. Stretch-inactivated cation channels: cellular targets for modulation of osmosensitivity in supraoptic neurons (C.W. Bourque, D.L. Voisin, Y. Chakfe). 8. Glial cells in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system: key elements of the regulation of neuronal electrical and secretory activity (N. Hussy). 9. Functional synaptic plasticity in hypothalamic magnocellular neurons (J.G. Tasker, S. Di, C. Boudaba). 10. Post synaptic GABAB receptors in supraoptic oxytocin and vasopressin neurons (J.E. Stern, Y. Li, D.S. Richards). 11. Neurohypophyseal hormones in the integration of physiological responses to immune challenges (K.J. Kovács). 12. Involvement of the brain oxytocin system in stress coping: interactions with the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (I.D. Neumann). 13. Expression of human vasopressin and oxytocin receptors in Escherichia coli (B. Mouillac et al.). 14. Molecular pharmacology and modeling of vasopressin receptors (M. Thibonnier et al.). 15. Nonpeptide vasopressin receptor antagonists: development of selective and orally-active V1A, V2 and V1B receptor ligands (C. Serradeil-Le Gal et al.). 16. Rat vasopressin mRNA: a model system to characterize cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors involved in dendritic mRNA sorting (E. Mohr et al.). 17. Dendritic action potentials in magnocellular neurons (J.S. Bains). 18. Modulation of synaptic transmission by oxytocin and vasopressin in the supraoptic nucleus (S.B. Kombian et al.). 19. The active role of dendrites in the regulation of magnocellular neurosecretory cell behavior (M. Ludwig et al.). 20. Cardiovascular regulation of supraoptic vasopressin neurons (J.T. Cunningham et al.). 21. The central vasopressinergic system in experimental left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction (F. Muders et al.). 22. Cardiovascular effects of oxytocin (M. Petersson). 23. Treatment of the diabetic patient: focus on cardiovascular and renal risk reduction (K.C. Abbott, G.L.K. Bakris). 24. Oxytocin in parturition of guinea pigs, humans and other species (J.-C. Schellenberg). 25. Oxytocin, vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide control body fluid homeostasis by action on their receptors in brain, cardiovascular system and kidney (S.M. McCann et al.). 26. Positive and negative regulators of the vasopressin gene promoter in small cell lung cancer (J.M. Coulson). 27. The vasopressin receptor of corticotroph pituitary cells (P. René, Y. De Keyzer). 28. Involvement of oxytocin and vasopressin in the pathophysiology of preterm labor and primary dysmenorrhea (M. Åkerlund). Subject Index.