Dehydration-induced proteome changes in the rat hypothalamo- neurohypophyseal system

Abstract

The hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS) mediates neuroendocrine responses to dehydration through the action of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin (VP). VP is synthesized as part of a prepropeptide in magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus. This precursor is processed during transport to axon terminals in the posterior pituitary gland, in which biologically active VP is stored until mobilized for secretion by electrical activity evoked by osmotic cues. During release, VP travels through the blood stream to specific receptor targets located in the kidney in which it increases the permeability of the collecting ducts to water, redu..