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The concept of tissue specific renin-angiotensin systems (RAS) that function independently of the circulating RAS is largely accepted. Such an intrinsec system of the pineal gland was revealed by Rumanian scientists, which found a high renin like biological activity in the rat pineal, after nephrectomy, and also de novo production of isorenin by th...
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The classic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was initially described as a hormone system designed to mediate cardiovascular and body water regulation. The discovery of a brain RAS composed of the necessary functional components (angiotensinogen, peptidases, angiotensins, and specific receptor proteins) independent of the peripheral system significant...
Citations
... Vassopresin, deeply involved in water homeostasis, is also involved in regulation of blood pressure, directly (as vasoconstrictor and sparing the water volume) or by stimulating the angiotensins system. Pineal gland is one of the sources of brain angiotensins (16,17), but also expresses nonapeptides: vasopressin, oxytocin (18), and arginin vasotocin-like activities (19)(20)(21). Vasopressin is also a main component of suprachiasmatic nucleus, the central pacemaker of diurnal biorhythm (22). ...
Vasopressin increases the serum level of IGF, binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in humans through V2A receptor (1), a fact related with the adequate interpretation of the high IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) level, as predictor marker of gravity in critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU). Both vasopressin and IGFBP-1 are good prognostic markers for survival in highly stressful conditions such as the acute myocardial infarction (2,3). Arginin Vasopressin (AVP) is the first peptide hormone synthesized (4), and for a longtime has been used only for its antidiuretic properties, maximally amplified by biochemists in its analogues deamino-D-arginin vasopressin (DDAVP) (5). However AVP is not the single antidiuretic peptide hormone. Its phylogenetic ancestor-arginine vasotocin (AVT)-is the main antidiuretic hormone of all vertebrates, excepting mammals, and its relative-oxytocin – also shows antidiuretic activities (revealed by water intoxication in pregnant women, excessively infused with oxytocin). By reverse, in the disease with vasopressin deficiency-central diabetes insipidus, although the levels of serum vasopressin are low, there is an increased antidiuretic activity of the cerebrospinal fluid in adult patients (6). There are some difficulties in identifying nonapeptides and their origins (7), but there are data about sources of antidiuretic hormone, outside the well-known hypothalamic nuclei, for example, in pancreas (8), in the adrenal gland, in human pineal fetal cells (9), in pineal gland of rats with hereditary central diabetes insipidus (10). A network of vasopressinergic fibers is spread within the brain, independent of supraoptico-hypophyseal tract. The relation of vasopressin with melatonin (11), was proved, as well as the relation with the brain visual evoked potentials (12).
