Introduction to - Vasopressin

Vasopressin

Vasopressin is a substance which is known under several names. The common acronyms are AVP (Arginine vasopressin) and ADH (Antidiuretic hormone), otherwise it is called argipressin. Vasopressin is actually a peptide hormone. These types of hormone are present in human as well as in many other mammals. The substance is developed in the hypothalamus and stocked up in our posterior pituitary. It is then gradually infused into either our brain or our blood stream.

Function of Vasopressin

Vasopressin has various functions. One of its paramount significance is to actually make sure that water is retained in the body. The substance AVP is released in the body in cases of dehydration. This does eventually promotes the kidney to preserve water. The effect is that urine becomes concentrated and the quantity released is diminished. However, a high concentration of urine is deleterious. It can actually cause blood pressure to increase. This eventually implies that it can have some related neurological effects on our mind. The brain is affected positively or negatively by emits of different volumes of vasopressin. Other mammals such as pigs have a substance called lysine vasopressin, it is similar to our own vasopressin substance and it carries out the same function as for human.

Vasopressin in our nervous system

Vasopressin has various effects on our nervous system. These are related to both memory and other cognitive issues. Vasopressin is thus considered as an interesting nootropic substance. It can improve our psychological behaviour. However, vasopressin has proven to play a crucial role in social behaviour as well. The latest finding, highlights that vasopressin has its contribution during sexual intercourses. It has another specific factor which actually initiates aggressiveness between different males. This was examined, on different type of animals, as the level of vasopressin differed heavily in promiscuous and monogamous species; their aggressiveness had a correlative trend. Vasopressin determines social behaviour to a certain extent as it has been shown amidst males.

Vasopressin ability to improve health

Vasopressin has a primordial role in our biological system. A diminished availability of vasopressin would make human more prone to disease. Diseases that we are normally exposed to are diabetes insipidus, augmenting sodium in the blood, highly level of urine production (polyuria) and continuous thirst (polydipsia). These can harm people with a low level of vasopressin.

A high level of vasopressin can also have some dreadful effect on health. It can cause hyponatremia, which is a low level of blood sodium. The result of this can be emergence of brain diseases and lung problems. There are other medication such as syntocinon and anti-emetics which do actually develop the same effects as a surplus of vasopressin secretion.

Vasopressin ability to improve relationship

The Karolinska Institution in Stockholm made a fabulous founding on vasopressin. They discovered that receptors of vasopressin found in the brain had an important impact on relationship. The research was mainly carried out by contrasting males with the variant of, 1a gene, vasopressin receptor. It was concluded that people possessing this variant 1a gene, had in average poor relationship with their partners. Vasopressin acts as a reward system; it promotes mating to take place. It does somehow motivate males to interact with females that they have mated with. The vasopressin acts as a social motivation after copulation and does not increase desire or motivation for sexual activities. This research was later carried out on men. The finding was that people possessing a certain variant called ‘Allele’ had tremendously low average score in their relationships. Most of them had undergone martial crisis such as divorce. Vasopressin highlights an important aspect on human relationship. However, Dr John Lucas, at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, highlighted that there are more than a single gene that influences human behaviour. Human behaviour is influenced by multiple genes with the direct interaction to the environment as well.

The finding remains phenomenal as it depicts the degrees of satisfaction, cohesion and care amidst partners. Vasopressin has an important role in relationship both for human and other mammals in their mate bonding.

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