title: Integration of sodium and osmosensory signals in vasopressin neurons.
abstract: Vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) release has been thought to be controlled by interacting osmoreceptors and Na(+)-detectors for > 20 years. Only recently, however, have molecular and cellular advances revealed how changes in the external concentration of Na+ and osmolality are detected during acute and chronic osmotic perturbations. In rat vasopressin-containing neurons, local osmosensitivity is conferred by intrinsic stretch-inactivated cation channels and by taurine release from surrounding glia. Na+ detection is accomplished by acute regulation of the permeability of stretch-inactivated channels and by changes in Na+ channel gene expression. These features provide a first glimpse of the integrative processes at work in a central osmoregulatory reflex.
authors: Laboratoire de Physiologie Oro-Faciale, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, 63000 Clermont Ferrand, France.
authors: Daniel L
authors: DL
authors: Voisin
authors: Charles W
authors: CW
authors: Bourque
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015222:Sodium Channels; D014667:Vasopressins; D013654:Taurine; D012964:Sodium