title: Vasopressin-independent mechanisms in controlling water homeostasis.
abstract: The maintenance of body water homeostasis depends on the balance between water intake and water excretion. In the kidney, vasopressin (Vp) is a critical regulator of water homeostasis by controlling the insertion of aquaporin 2 (AQP2) onto the apical membrane of the collecting duct principal cells in the short term and regulating the gene expression of AQP2 in the long term. A growing body of evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that both secretin and oxytocin are involved as Vp-independent mechanisms regulating the renal water reabsorption process, including the translocation and expression of AQP2. This review focuses on how these two hormones are potentially involved as Vp-independent mechanisms in controlling water homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Carrie Y Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jessica Y S
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Billy K C
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Chow