cisplatin

DEFINITION:

Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum, a platinum coordination complex capable of producing inter- and intrastrand DNA crosslinks and having a broad spectrum of antitumor activity, used in the treatment of a wide variety of neoplasms, particularly metastatic ovarian and testicular carcinoma and advanced carcinoma of the bladder; administered intravenously. Called Also cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, CDDP, cis-DDP, and DDP.

polyuria

DEFINITION:

The passage of a large volume of urine in a given period, a characteristic of diabetes.

end-organ resistance

DEFINITION:

Multiple hormones are carried in the bloodstream but a given hormone affects only those cells that comprise its specific end-organ. In the case of the anti-diuretic hormone, vasopressin, the end-organ is the kidney, specifically the cells of the collecting ducts. These are normally rendered water permeable by vasopressin. In nephrogenic diabetes insipidus the vasopressin receptors of these cells are genetically altered so that they fail to respond; thus the end-organ is said to be resistant to vasopressin (Crawford).

vasopressin

DEFINITION:

1. One of two octapeptide hormones formed by the neuronal cells of the hypothalamic nuclei and stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (neurohypophysis), the other being oxytocin. It stimulates the contraction of the muscular tissue of the capillaries and arterioles, raising the blood pressure. It promotes contraction of the intestinal musculature and increases peristalsis, and also exerts some contractile influence on the uterus. It also has a specific effect on the epithelial cells of the distal portion of the uriniferous tubule, augmenting resorption of water independently of solutes, resulting in concentration of urine and dilution of blood serum. Its rate of secretion is regulated chiefly by the osmolarity of the plasma.

2. [USP], A pharmaceutical preparation of the same principle, prepared synthetically or obtained from the posterior pituitary of healthy domestic animals used for food by man; used mainly as an antidiuretic in the treatment of acute or chronic diabetes insipidus, administered intramuscularly as a test of hypothalamo-neurohypophysial-renal function in distinguishing central from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus; it may also be used to stimulate smooth muscle tissue, especially to induce vasoconstriction in the presence of hemorrhage. Called also antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

renal

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the kidney.

aquaporins

DEFINITION:

A family of membrane channel proteins that serve as selective pores through which water crosses the plasma membranes of many human tissues and cell types.

AQPs

DEFINITION:

Aquaporins.

Sprague-Dawley rats

DEFINITION:

A strain of albino rats developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company, widely used in experimental work because of their calmness and ease of handling.

G

DEFINITION:

As G - Symbol for "gauss," "giga-," "gravida," and "guanine" or "guanosine."

N

DEFINITION:

Symbol for newton , nitrogen , and for normal (solution), used with a number designating the strength of the solution relative to the normal, e.g., N/2 or 0.5 N for half-normal.

saline

DEFINITION:

Salty; of the nature of a salt; containing a salt or salts.

N

DEFINITION:

Symbol for newton , nitrogen , and for normal (solution), used with a number designating the strength of the solution relative to the normal, e.g., N/2 or 0.5 N for half-normal.

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.

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.

cortex

DEFINITION:

The outer layer of an organ or other body structure, as distinguished from the internal substance.

outer medulla

DEFINITION:

See outer medulla of kidney.

tubular

DEFINITION:

Shaped like a tube; of or pertaining to a tubule.

AQP1

DEFINITION:

Aquaporin-1.

proximal

DEFINITION:

Nearest; closer to any point of reference: opposed to distal .

urine volume

DEFINITION:

The measure of the quantity of urine, e.g., excreted from the kidneys.

urine osmolality

DEFINITION:

The concentration of osmotically active particles in solution (in this case, urine) expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per kilogram of solvent. The osmolality is directly proportional to the colligative properties of solutions: osmotic pressure, boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, and vapor pressure lowering.

immunoblots

DEFINITION:

A technique for, or the blots resulting from, analyzing or identifying proteins via antigen - antibody specific reactions, as in Western blot or dot blot techniques.

AQP2

DEFINITION:

Aquaporin-2.

AQP3

DEFINITION:

Aquaporin-3.

inner medulla

DEFINITION:

Inner medulla of kidney: inner zone of renal medulla.

immunocytochemical

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the application of immunochemical techniques, e.g., immunoperoxidase staining, to cytochemistry.

analysis

DEFINITION:

1. Separation into component parts or elements; the act of determining the component parts of a substance.

2. Psychoanalysis.

AQP2

DEFINITION:

Aquaporin-2.

labeling

DEFINITION:

1. The marking, tagging, or act of identifying something.
2. Providing something with such a characteristic.

radioactive labeling - the marking of a compound by incorporating a radioisotope into it.

inner medulla

DEFINITION:

Inner medulla of kidney: inner zone of renal medulla.

inner medulla

DEFINITION:

Inner medulla of kidney: inner zone of renal medulla.

AQP1

DEFINITION:

Aquaporin-1.

7 transmembrane domain

DEFINITION:

The seventh region (domain) of the transmembrane V2R. See schematic drawing of the V2R.

polyuria

DEFINITION:

The passage of a large volume of urine in a given period, a characteristic of diabetes.

expression

DEFINITION:

1. The aspect or appearance of the face (or surface of a cell) as determined by the physical or emotional state.

2. The act of squeezing or evacuating by pressure; a term used in pharmacy, surgery, and obstetrics.

3. The detectable effect of a gene.

4. A representation of value, relation, or the like (e.g., ratio).

collecting duct

DEFINITION:

See under duct.

AQP2

DEFINITION:

Aquaporin-2.

AQP3

DEFINITION:

Aquaporin-3.

AQP1

DEFINITION:

Aquaporin-1.

water channels

DEFINITION:

Channels in a cell membrane that permit passage of water molecules; chemical substances such as vasopressin cause the opening of new channels and increase permeability.

inner medulla

DEFINITION:

Inner medulla of kidney: inner zone of renal medulla.

permission

DEFINITION:

Formal consent; authorization.