Endocrinology, Vol 114, 1797-1804, Copyright © 1984 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

In vitro adrenocorticotropin/beta-endorphin-releasing activity of vasopressin analogs is related neither to pressor nor to antidiuretic activity

W Knepel, L Homolka, M Vlaskovska and D Nutto

The ability of vasopressin and related analogs to induce ACTH, beta- endorphin, and beta-lipotropin release was studied in vitro using incubated rat anterior pituitary quarters or a perifused rat isolated anterior pituitary cell column. Vasopressin and its analogs exhibited corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like activity in a rank order which was different from those for vasopressor or antidiuretic activity. Two dissimilar antagonists with antivasopressor activity showed different effects: one possessed CRF-like activity itself, the other blocked the CRF-like activity of vasopressin. Another antagonist with antipressor and also antiantidiuretic activity had no effect when given alone and also didn't block the CRF-like activity of vasopressin. Some analogs were also tested for their effects on cAMP accumulation. Analogs, which possessed CRF-like activity or blocked CRF-like activity of vasopressin, stimulated cAMP accumulation or inhibited vasopressin- stimulated cAMP accumulation in anterior pituitary quarters, respectively. These results imply that the structural requirements of the CRF-like activity of vasopressin differ from those of the pressor and antidiuretic activity. Therefore, it is possible that the pituitary receptors responsible for CRF-like activity of vasopressin represent a separate category of vasopressin receptors which may be linked to an adenylate cyclase.

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				J. Newell-Price, L. Perry, S. Medbak, J. Monson, M. Savage, M. Besser, and A. Grossman A Combined Test Using Desmopressin and Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in the Differential Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 1997; 82(1): 176 - 181. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]