Vasopressinergic sexual dimorphism: Sex chromosome complement and organizational hormonal effects.

This study aimed to analyze the role of the sex chromosomes (SCC: XX/XY) and the interaction with organizational hormonal effects on Avp gene expression at the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) due to water deprivation, as well as on the vasopressinergic sexually dimorphic antidiuretic and pressor responses. For this purpose, we used gonadectomized (GDX) transgenic mice of the "four core genotypes" model, in which the effect of gonadal sex and SCC are dissociated. A significant interaction between treatment and SCC on Avp gene expression at the SON was observed.

Effects of Voluntary Sodium Consumption during the Perinatal Period on Renal Mechanisms, Blood Pressure, and Vasopressin Responses after an Osmotic Challenge in Rats.

Cardiovascular control is vulnerable to forced high sodium consumption during the per-inatal period, inducing programming effects, with anatomical and molecular changes at the kidney, brain, and vascular levels that increase basal and induce blood pressure. However, the program- ming effects of the natriophilia proper of the perinatal period on blood pressure control have not yet been elucidated. In order to evaluate this, we studied the effect of a sodium overload challenge (SO) on blood pressure response and kidney and brain gene expression in adult offspring exposed to voluntary hypertonic sodium consumption during the perinatal period (PM-NaCl group).

Molecular neurobiological markers in the onset of sodium appetite.

Sodium appetite is a motivational state involving homeostatic behavior, seeking the ingest of salty substances after sodium loss. There is a temporal dissociation between sodium depletion (SD) and the appearance of sodium appetite. However, the responsible mechanisms for this delay remain poorly elucidated.

Brain osmo-sodium sensitive channels and the onset of sodium appetite.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the TRPV1 channel is involved in the onset of sodium appetite. For this purpose, we used TRPV1-knockout mice to investigate sodium depletion-induced drinking at different times (2/24 h) after furosemide administration combined with a low sodium diet (FURO-LSD). In sodium depleted wild type and TRPV1 KO (SD-WT/SD-TPRV1-KO) mice, we also evaluated the participation of other sodium sensors, such as TPRV4, Na and angiotensin AT1-receptors (by RT-PCR), as well as investigating the pattern of neural activation shown by Fos immunoreactivity, in different nuclei involved in hydromineral regulation.

Whole body sodium depletion modifies AT1 mRNA expression and serotonin content in the dorsal raphe nucleus.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) acts on Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptors located in the organum vasculosum and subfornical organ (SFO) of the lamina terminalis as a main facilitatory mechanism of sodium appetite. The brain serotonin (5-HT) system with soma located in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) provides a main inhibitory mechanism. In the present study, we first investigated the existence of Ang II AT1 receptors in serotonergic DRN neurones.