Antidiuretic hormone or hormone vasopressin is a peptide. It contains nine amino acid residues. Its half-life is 2-4 minutes. This hormone is produced in the large cell parts of the hypothalamus, and from there it is transported to the neurohypophysis. Moving is performed on axons due to specific protein-vectors.
Functions of the hormone vasopressin
The main activity of the hormone is the control of water metabolism. Therefore, it is called antidiuretic. Once the amount of ADH increases in the body, the volume of urine released sharply decreases.
But in reality it turns out that vasopressin is a multi-faceted hormone and functions in the body performs an impressive amount. Among the most important of them are:
- increased blood volume circulating through the vessels;
- increased smooth muscle tone;
- increased activity of blood cells of platelets;
- correction of memory mechanisms;
- decreasing the amount of sodium in the blood;
- oxidation of fatty acids.
Norms of vasopressin
If the amount of vasopressin corresponds to the norm in the test results, there are no reasons for concern. Normal reference values look like this:
- with osmolality of the plasma 270-280 mosm / kg -
- 280-285 mosm / kg -
- 285-290 mosm / kg - 1-5 pg / mol;
- 290-295 mosm / kg - 2-7 pg / mol;
- 295-300 mosm / kg - 4-12 pg / mol.
According to the principle of action, the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin can be considered very similar. The main difference is that the latter contains two amino acid residues less. But this does not prevent the hormone from showing more activity in relation to the stimulation of milk secretion, for example.
Hypofunction of the hormone vasopressin
If the substance in the body is not enough, diabetes insipidus can develop. The disease is characterized by oppression of the function of water re-uptake by renal tubules. Reducing the level of ADH is facilitated by the use of ethanol and glucocorticoids.
Hyperfunction of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin
ADH can be intensively produced with:
- emotional and physical overload;
- renal failure;
- hepatic insufficiency ;
- a decrease in the amount of blood circulating along the vascular bed;
- acute intermittent porphyria;
- brain tumors;
- pneumonia;
- tuberculous meningitis.
The problem is a decrease in the density of the blood plasma and the release of urine of very high concentration.