potent

DEFINITION:

Powerful; effective.

selective

DEFINITION:

Having a high degree of selectivity.

orally

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the mouth; taken through or applied in the mouth, as an oral medication or an oral thermometer.

vasopressin V2 receptor

DEFINITION:

The molecular structure within a cell or on the surface to which the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin binds.

antagonist

DEFINITION:

1. A muscle whose action is the direct opposite of that of another muscle.

2. A substance that tends to nullify the action of another, as a drug that binds to a cell receptor without eliciting a biological response, blocking binding of substances that could elicit such responses.

3. A tooth in one jaw that articulates with a tooth in the other jaw.

characterized

DEFINITION:

Marked or distinguished as a characteristic.

in vitro

DEFINITION:

Within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment.

in vivo

DEFINITION:

Within the living body.

compound

DEFINITION:

1. In chemistry, a substance that consists of two or more chemical elements in union.

2. In genetics, a genotype in which there are two different mutant alleles at a locus, or a phenotype produced by such a genotype.

3. A word consisting of parts that are already words.

selective

DEFINITION:

Having a high degree of selectivity.

affinity

DEFINITION:

1. A special attraction for a specific element, organ, or structure.

2. Chemical affinity.

3. In immunology, a thermodynamic expression of the strength of interaction between a single antigen-binding site and a single antigenic determinant (and thus of the stereochemical compatibility between them), most accurately applied to interactions among simple, uniform antigenic determinants such as haptens. Expressed as the association constant (K liters mole^-1), which, owing to the heterogeneity of affinities in a population of antibody molecules of a given specificity, actually represents an average value (mean intrinsic association constant).

V2

DEFINITION:

Vasopressin-2. See vasopressin-2 gene and vasopressin-2 receptor.

receptors

DEFINITION:

See definitions under "receptor."

bovine

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to, characteristic of, or derived from cattle.

kidney

DEFINITION:

One of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in man are bean-shaped organs about 4-1/2 inches long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder.

arginine vasopressin

DEFINITION:

Vasopressin containing arginine, as that from most mammals, including man.

AVP

DEFINITION:

Arginine vasopressin.

adenylyl cyclase

DEFINITION:

A membrane-bound enzyme that catalyzes the formation of cyclic AMP from ATP. An important component of some intracellular signaling pathways.

kidney

DEFINITION:

One of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in man are bean-shaped organs about 4-1/2 inches long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder.

mapping

DEFINITION:

1. The creation on a flat surface of a representation of an area, showing the relative positions of various features.

2. Locating the relative position of genes on chromosomes. Called also "gene mapping."

V2

DEFINITION:

Vasopressin-2. See vasopressin-2 gene and vasopressin-2 receptor.

receptors

DEFINITION:

See definitions under "receptor."

affinity

DEFINITION:

1. A special attraction for a specific element, organ, or structure.

2. Chemical affinity.

3. In immunology, a thermodynamic expression of the strength of interaction between a single antigen-binding site and a single antigenic determinant (and thus of the stereochemical compatibility between them), most accurately applied to interactions among simple, uniform antigenic determinants such as haptens. Expressed as the association constant (K liters mole^-1), which, owing to the heterogeneity of affinities in a population of antibody molecules of a given specificity, actually represents an average value (mean intrinsic association constant).

renal

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the kidney.

V2

DEFINITION:

Vasopressin-2. See vasopressin-2 gene and vasopressin-2 receptor.

receptors

DEFINITION:

See definitions under "receptor."

ligand

DEFINITION:

1. A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme.
2. A molecule that donates or accepts a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex.

hydrated

DEFINITION:

Combined with water; forming a hydrate or a hydroxide.

intravenous

DEFINITION:

Within a vein or veins.

oral

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the mouth, taken through or applied in the mouth, as an oral medication or an oral thermometer.

administration

DEFINITION:

1. The act of dispensing.

2. Application, as of a salve, medicine, etc.

oral

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the mouth, taken through or applied in the mouth, as an oral medication or an oral thermometer.

urine

DEFINITION:

The fluid excreted by the kidneys, passed through the ureters, stored in the bladder, and discharged through the urethra. Urine, in health, has an amber color, a slight acid reaction, a peculiar odor, and a bitter, saline taste.

diuretic

DEFINITION:

1. Increasing the excretion of urine.

2. An agent that promotes the excretion of urine.

hydrochlorothiazide

DEFINITION:

A thiazide diuretic, used for treatment of hypertension and edema; administered orally. It is often used in combination with a potassium-sparing diuretic.

antidiuretic

DEFINITION:

1. Suppressing the rate of urine formation.

2. An agent that suppresses urine formation.

properties

DEFINITION:

Properties are characteristic qualities, abilities, capabilities, or functions.

Brattleboro rats

DEFINITION:

Also known as BB rats, a strain that serves as a model of diabetes insipidus (L. Brown). Brattleboro rats have a mutation in the gene that codes for vasopressin and its sister protein neurophysin. Thus, they produce no vasopressin and can be said to have “central diabetes insipidus” (M. Knepper).

potent

DEFINITION:

Powerful; effective.

selective

DEFINITION:

Having a high degree of selectivity.

orally

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the mouth; taken through or applied in the mouth, as an oral medication or an oral thermometer.

V2

DEFINITION:

Vasopressin-2. See vasopressin-2 gene and vasopressin-2 receptor.

receptors

DEFINITION:

See definitions under "receptor."

permission

DEFINITION:

Formal consent; authorization.