series

DEFINITION:

1. A group or succession of objects or substances arranged in regular order or forming a kind of chain.
2. Pertaining to electrical circuit components connected "in series" so that the current flow goes through each component without branching; applied by extension to any similar series circuit, e.g., the pulmonary and systemic circulations.
3. A taxonomic category of fungi falling between a subphylum and an order and based on the type of ascus the organism possesses.

monocytic series - The succession of developing cells that ultimately culminates in the monocyte; after the colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage , the stages in order of maturity are the monoblast , promonocyte , and the mature monocyte .

linear

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to or resembling a line.

antagonists

DEFINITION:

1. Muscles whose actions are the direct opposite of that of other muscles.

hormone

DEFINITION:

A product of living cells that circulates in body fluids and produces a specific effect on the activity of cells remote from its point of origin; especially: one exerting a stimulatory effect on a cellular activity.

hypophysiotropic hormones - Hormones produced by the hypothalamus, usually releasing hormones (see below), which maintain the endocrine functions of cells of the adenohypophysis.

neurohormone - A hormone secreted by a specialized neuron into the bloodstream, the cerebrospinal fluid, or the intercellular spaces of the nervous system.

releasing hormones - Hormones elaborated in one structure that cause the release of hormones from another structure, such as those from the hypothalamus that act on the adenohypophysis. The term is applied to substances of established chemical identity, whereas substances of unknown chemical structure are called releasing factors .

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).

synthesized

DEFINITION:

Produced by means of synthesis.

mediated

DEFINITION:

Accomplished by the aid of an intervening medium.

phase

DEFINITION:

1. The view that a thing presents to the eye.
2. Any one of the varying aspects or stages through which a disease or process may pass.
3. In physical chemistry, any physically or chemically distinct, homogeneous, and mechanically separable part of a system.
4. On an electrodiagnostic recording, that portion of a wave that is between any two consecutive times it crosses the baseline.

peptide

DEFINITION:

Any member of a class of compounds of low molecular weight which yield two or more amino acids on hydrolysis. Formed by loss of water from the NH₂ and COOH groups of adjacent amino acids, they are known as di-, tri-, tetra- [etc.] peptides, depending on the number of amino acids in the molecule. Peptides form the constituent parts of proteins.

synthesis

DEFINITION:

The artificial building up of a chemical compound, by the union of its elements or from other suitable starting materials.

solution

DEFINITION:

1. A homogeneous mixture of one or more substances (solutes) dispersed molecularly in a sufficient quantity of dissolving medium (solvent). The solute may be gas, liquid, or solid; the solvent is usually liquid, but may be solid, as in a solid solution of copper in silver (sterling silver). In pharmacology, a liquid preparation containing one or several soluble chemical substances usually dissolved in water and not, for various reasons, falling into another category.
2. The process of dissolving.
3. A loosening or separation.

synthesis

DEFINITION:

The artificial building up of a chemical compound, by the union of its elements or from other suitable starting materials.

potent

DEFINITION:

Powerful; effective.

selective

DEFINITION:

Having a high degree of selectivity.

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.

vasopressor

DEFINITION:

1. Stimulating contraction of the muscular tissue of the capillaries and arteries.

2. An agent that stimulates contraction of the muscular tissue of the capillaries and arteries.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

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.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

CO

DEFINITION:

Cardiac output.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

ARG

DEFINITION:

Abbreviation for autoradiography.

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).

hepatic

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the liver.

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).

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).

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).

ring

DEFINITION:

1. Any annular or circular organ or area.
2. In chemistry, a collection of atoms united in a continuous or closed chain.

residue

DEFINITION:

1. A remainder; that which remains after the removal of other substances.
2. In biochemistry, the portion of a molecule that remains after it has lost some of its components, as an amino acid residue, which loses a water molecule when it is joined to another amino acid.

compounds

DEFINITION:

See definitions under "compound."

derivatives

DEFINITION:

Chemical substances produced from other substances either directly or by modification or partial substitution.

liver

DEFINITION:

1. A large gland of a dark-red color situated in the upper part of the abdomen on the right side. Its manifold functions include the storage and filtration of blood, the secretion of bile, the excretion of bilirubin and other substances formed elsewhere in the body, and numerous metabolic functions, including the conversion of sugars into glycogen, which it stores.

2. The same gland of certain animals sometimes used as food or from which pharmaceutical products are prepared.

membranes

DEFINITION:

See definitions for "membrane."

oxytocin

DEFINITION:

1. An octapeptide, one of the major hormones made in the magnocellular hypothalamic neurons and stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary, the other being vasopressin. It has uterine-contracting and milk-ejecting actions. It contributes to the second stage of labor.
2. The same oxytocic principle obtained synthetically or from the posterior pituitary of domestic animals, prepared in accordance with USP standards; it is administered intramuscularly or by intravenous infusion to induce active labor, increase the force of contractions in labor, contract uterine muscle after delivery of the placenta, control postpartum hemorrhage, and stimulate milk ejection.

renal

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to the kidney.

V2

DEFINITION:

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

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).

receptors

DEFINITION:

See definitions under "receptor."

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).

inositol

DEFINITION:

A cyclic sugar alcohol, the fully hydroxylated derivative of cyclohexane, occurring naturally in a variety of stereoisomers, particularly the myo-isomer. Used alone, the term usually denotes this isomer.

cells

DEFINITION:

See definitions for "cell."

potency

DEFINITION:

The relationship between the therapeutic effect of a drug and the dose necessary to achieve that effect; a drug with a higher potency will require a smaller dose to produce a given effect. Clinically, potency has little use except as a means to compare the relative activities of pharmaceutic agents.

covalent

DEFINITION:

See "covalence" or "covalent bond."

covalent

DEFINITION:

See "covalence" or "covalent bond."

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).

selective

DEFINITION:

Having a high degree of selectivity.

photosensitive

DEFINITION:

Exhibiting an abnormally heightened reactivity to sunlight.

ligands

DEFINITION:

1. Molecules that bind to other molecules, 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. Molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form coordinate covalent bonds with the central metal atom of a coordination complex.

pharmacological

DEFINITION:

Pertaining to pharmacology or to the properties and reactions of drugs.

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).