arginine

DEFINITION:

An amino acid produced by the hydrolysis or digestion of proteins.

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).

AVP

DEFINITION:

Arginine vasopressin.

immunoreactivity

DEFINITION:

The quality or state of being immunoreactive.

platelet

DEFINITION:

A disk-shaped structure, 2 to 4 µm in diameter, found in the blood of all mammals and chiefly known for its role in blood coagulation; platelets, which are formed in the megakaryocyte and released from its cytoplasm in clusters, lack a nucleus and DNA but contain active enzymes and mitochondria. Called also "blood disk," "blood platelet," and "thrombocyte."

plasma

DEFINITION:

1. The fluid portion of the blood in which the particulate components are suspended. Plasma is to be distinguished from serum , which is the cell-free portion of the blood from which the fibrinogen has been separated in the process of clotting. See blood plasma .
2. The lymph deprived of its corpuscles or cells.
3. A glycerite of starch used in preparing ointments.
4. Cytoplasm or protoplasm.

platelet

DEFINITION:

A disk-shaped structure, 2 to 4 µm in diameter, found in the blood of all mammals and chiefly known for its role in blood coagulation; platelets, which are formed in the megakaryocyte and released from its cytoplasm in clusters, lack a nucleus and DNA but contain active enzymes and mitochondria. Called also "blood disk," "blood platelet," and "thrombocyte."

plasma

DEFINITION:

1. The fluid portion of the blood in which the particulate components are suspended. Plasma is to be distinguished from serum , which is the cell-free portion of the blood from which the fibrinogen has been separated in the process of clotting. See blood plasma .
2. The lymph deprived of its corpuscles or cells.
3. A glycerite of starch used in preparing ointments.
4. Cytoplasm or protoplasm.

platelet

DEFINITION:

A disk-shaped structure, 2 to 4 µm in diameter, found in the blood of all mammals and chiefly known for its role in blood coagulation; platelets, which are formed in the megakaryocyte and released from its cytoplasm in clusters, lack a nucleus and DNA but contain active enzymes and mitochondria. Called also "blood disk," "blood platelet," and "thrombocyte."

plasma

DEFINITION:

1. The fluid portion of the blood in which the particulate components are suspended. Plasma is to be distinguished from serum , which is the cell-free portion of the blood from which the fibrinogen has been separated in the process of clotting. See blood plasma .
2. The lymph deprived of its corpuscles or cells.
3. A glycerite of starch used in preparing ointments.
4. Cytoplasm or protoplasm.

synthetic AVP

DEFINITION:

Synthetic arginine vasopressin. [USP] A synthetic preparation used as an antidiuretic in treatment of central diabetes insipidus, administered intranasally or by injection. It is also used to induce vasoconstriction to treat hemorrhage or administered intramuscularly, as a test of hypothalamo-neurohypophysial-renal function in distinguishing central diabetes insipidus from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Called also "antidiuretic hormone."

retention

DEFINITION:

1. The act or process of keeping in possession, or of holding in place or position.
2. The persistent keeping within the body of matter normally excreted.
3. In cavity preparation, the prevention of displacement of a restoration.
4. In orthodontic therapy, the period during which the patient is wearing an appliance(s) to maintain and stabilize the teeth in the position into which they were moved.

retention of urine - Accumulation of urine within the bladder because of inability to urinate.

analysis

DEFINITION:

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

2. Psychoanalysis.

osmotic

DEFINITION:

Of, relating to, or having the properties of osmosis.

suppression

DEFINITION:

1. The act of holding back or checking.
2. Sudden stoppage or inhibition, as of a secretion, excretion, normal discharge, or other function.
3. In psychiatry, conscious inhibition of an unacceptable impulse or idea as contrasted with repression, which is unconscious.
4. In genetics, masking of the phenotypic expression of a mutation by the occurrence of a second (suppressor) mutation at a different site from the first; the organism appears to be reverted but is in fact doubly mutant.
5. Inhibition of the erythrocytic stage of Plasmodium to prevent clinical attacks of malaria; used for prophylaxis.
6. Cortical inhibition of perception of objects in all or part of the visual field of one eye during binocular vision.

test

DEFINITION:

1. An examination or trial.

2. A significant chemical reaction.

3. A reagent.

4. A loose or rigid, secreted or agglutinated, protective shell or shell-like covering or exoskeleton, seen in various invertebrates, including certain protozoa and echinoderms.

plasma osmolality

DEFINITION:

See individual entries for plasma and osmolality .

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.

correlated

DEFINITION:

See correlation.

concentration

DEFINITION:

1. Increase in strength by evaporation.

2. The ratio of the mass or volume of a solute to the mass or volume of the solution or solvent.

AVP

DEFINITION:

Arginine vasopressin.

concentration

DEFINITION:

1. Increase in strength by evaporation.

2. The ratio of the mass or volume of a solute to the mass or volume of the solution or solvent.

X

DEFINITION:

Symbol for Kienbock unit and xanthine or xanthosine . See also exposure , definition 3.

platelets

DEFINITION:

A disk-shaped structure, 2 to 4 µm in diameter, found in the blood of all mammals and chiefly known for their role in blood coagulation; platelets, which are formed in the megakaryocyte and released from its cytoplasm in clusters, lack a nucleus and DNA but contain active enzymes and mitochondria. Called also blood disk , blood platelet , and thrombocyte .

binding

DEFINITION:

1. Wrapping with a binder or bandage.

2. Forming a weak, reversible chemical bond, e.g., antigen to antibody or hormone to receptor.

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.

binding

DEFINITION:

1. Wrapping with a binder or bandage.

2. Forming a weak, reversible chemical bond, e.g., antigen to antibody or hormone to receptor.

in vitro

DEFINITION:

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

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).

association constant

DEFINITION:

A measure of the extent of a reversible association between two molecular species; called also binding constant.

in vivo

DEFINITION:

Within the living body.

AVP

DEFINITION:

Arginine vasopressin.

concentration

DEFINITION:

1. Increase in strength by evaporation.

2. The ratio of the mass or volume of a solute to the mass or volume of the solution or solvent.

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).

bound

DEFINITION:

1. Having formed a weak, reversible chemical bond, e.g., antigen to antibody or hormone to receptor.

2. Constrained by or as if by bonds; confined, obliged.

3. Enclosed in a binding or cover.

4. Resolved, determined; also, sure.

5. Intending to go.

6. Limit, boundary.

7. Leap, jump.

8. Rebound, bounce.

9. Spring, bounce.

platelet

DEFINITION:

A disk-shaped structure, 2 to 4 µm in diameter, found in the blood of all mammals and chiefly known for its role in blood coagulation; platelets, which are formed in the megakaryocyte and released from its cytoplasm in clusters, lack a nucleus and DNA but contain active enzymes and mitochondria. Called also "blood disk," "blood platelet," and "thrombocyte."

receptor

DEFINITION:

1. A molecular structure within a cell or on the surface characterized by (1) selective binding of a specific substance and (2) a specific physiologic effect that accompanies the binding, e.g., membrane receptors for peptide hormones, neurotransmitters, antigens, complement fragments, and immunoglobulins and nuclear receptors for steroid hormones.

2. A sensory nerve terminal that responds to stimuli of various kinds; classified in various ways including by the type of stimulus and by the location in the body.

V2 receptor - The structure to which the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin binds.

permission

DEFINITION:

Formal consent; authorization.