HormoneA hormone (from Ancient Greek ὁρμῶν (hormôn) 'setting in motion') is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs or tissues by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones are required for the normal development of animals, plants and fungi.
Posterior pituitaryThe posterior pituitary (or neurohypophysis) is the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland which is part of the endocrine system. Unlike the anterior pituitary, the posterior pituitary is not glandular, but largely a collection of axonal projections from the hypothalamus that terminate behind the anterior pituitary, and serve as a site for the secretion of neurohypophysial hormones (oxytocin and vasopressin) directly into the blood.
Renal physiologyRenal physiology (Latin renes, "kidneys") is the study of the physiology of the kidney.
AVP geneThe arginine vasopressin (AVP) gene is a gene whose product is proteolytically cleaved to produce vasopressin (also known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH), neurophysin II, and a glycoprotein called copeptin. AVP and other AVP-like peptides are found in mammals, as well as mollusks, arthropods, nematodes, and other invertebrate species. In humans, AVP is present on chromosome 20 and plays a role in homeostatic regulation.
NeuronPrimary cell of the nervous systemA neuron (American English), neurone (British English), or nerve cell, is a cell that is excitable, firing electric signals called action potentials. Neurons form neural networks in the nervous system, mainly in the central nervous system. Neurons receive and conduct impulses.
TonicityIn chemical biology, tonicity is a measure of the effective osmotic pressure gradient; the water potential of two solutions separated by a partially-permeable cell membrane. Tonicity depends on the relative concentration of selective membrane-impermeable solutes across a cell membrane which determines the direction and extent of osmotic flux. It is commonly used when describing the swelling-versus-shrinking response of cells immersed in an external solution.
Synaptic vesicleIn a neuron, synaptic vesicles (or neurotransmitter vesicles) store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse. The release is regulated by a voltage-dependent calcium channel. Vesicles are essential for propagating nerve impulses between neurons and are constantly recreated by the cell. The area in the axon that holds groups of vesicles is an axon terminal or "terminal bouton".
PeptidePeptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. A polypeptide is a longer, continuous, unbranched peptide chain. Polypeptides that have a molecular mass of 10,000 Da or more are called proteins. Chains of fewer than twenty amino acids are called oligopeptides, and include dipeptides, tripeptides, and tetrapeptides. Amino acids comprise peptides as residues.
ProhormoneA prohormone is a committed precursor of a hormone consisting of peptide hormones synthesized together that has a minimal hormonal effect by itself because of its expression-suppressing structure, often created by protein folding and binding additional peptide chains to certain ends, that makes hormone receptor binding sites located on its peptide hormone chain segments inaccessible.
HypothalamusThe hypothalamus (pl.: hypothalami; from Ancient Greek (hupó)'under' and (thálamos)'chamber') is a small part of the vertebratebrain that contains a number of nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus and is part of the limbic system. It forms the basal part of the diencephalon.
Circulatory systemOrgan system for circulating blood in animalsIn vertebrates, the circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the body. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, that consists of the heart and blood vessels (from Greek kardia meaning heart, and Latin vascula meaning vessels).
AxonAn axon (from Ancient Greek: ἄξων, romanized: áxōn, lit. 'axis'; also called a nerve fiber or fibre) is a long slender projection of a nerve cell or neuron found in most animals that typically conducts electrical impulses known as action potentials away from the nerve cell body. The function of the axon is to transmit information to different neurons, muscles, and glands.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.