Vasopressin secretion induced by hypoxia in sheep: developmental changes and relationship to beta-endorphin release.
To investigate the developmental changes in the secretion of vasopressin and the potential role of beta-endorphin as a stimulus to the release of vasopressin, the concentrations of these peptides were measured in fetal, newborn, and adult sheep after episodes of induced hypoxia. The studies confirm that hypoxia is a potent stimulus to the release of both vasopressin and beta-endorphin in the fetal animal. In both the newborn lamb and the ewe, more profound hypoxia is necessary for a similar release. In the fetus, the release of both vasopressin and beta-endorphin after hypoxia increased with gestational maturation. A comparison of control concentrations of both peptides, the discordance of release in the newborn lamb, and the absence of a change in concentrations of vasopressin with infusion of beta-endorphin implies that these hormones are released in parallel but independently during hypoxic stress.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000097:blood*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012756:Sheep; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001615:beta-Endorphin
D004723:Endorphins; D014667:Vasopressins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D010100:Oxygen