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Review
. 2021 Oct 24;22(21):11465.
doi: 10.3390/ijms222111465.

Complementary Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Cardiovascular Regulation

Ewa Szczepanska-Sadowska  1 , Agnieszka Wsol  1 , Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jedrzejewska  1 , Tymoteusz Żera  1
Affiliations
Review

Complementary Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Cardiovascular Regulation

Ewa Szczepanska-Sadowska et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

The neurons secreting oxytocin (OXY) and vasopressin (AVP) are located mainly in the supraoptic, paraventricular, and suprachiasmatic nucleus of the brain. Oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic projections reach several regions of the brain and the spinal cord. Both peptides are released from axons, soma, and dendrites and modulate the excitability of other neuroregulatory pathways. The synthesis and action of OXY and AVP in the peripheral organs (eye, heart, gastrointestinal system) is being investigated. The secretion of OXY and AVP is influenced by changes in body fluid osmolality, blood volume, blood pressure, hypoxia, and stress. Vasopressin interacts with three subtypes of receptors: V1aR, V1bR, and V2R whereas oxytocin activates its own OXTR and V1aR receptors. AVP and OXY receptors are present in several regions of the brain (cortex, hypothalamus, pons, medulla, and cerebellum) and in the peripheral organs (heart, lungs, carotid bodies, kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, ovaries, uterus, thymus). Hypertension, myocardial infarction, and coexisting factors, such as pain and stress, have a significant impact on the secretion of oxytocin and vasopressin and on the expression of their receptors. The inappropriate regulation of oxytocin and vasopressin secretion during ischemia, hypoxia/hypercapnia, inflammation, pain, and stress may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: hypertension; myocardial infarction; oxytocin; stress; vasopressin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Main factors operating in the brain and peripheral organs participating in the regulation of the synthesis and release of oxytocin and vasopressin. Abbreviations: AP—area postrema; AVP—arginine vasopressin; MnPO—median preoptic nucleus; NTS—nucleus tractus solitarii; OVLT—organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis; OXY—oxytocin; PVN—paraventricular nucleus; RVLM—rostral ventrolateral medulla; 3rd—third ventricle; 4th—fourth ventricle.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The role of oxytocin in cardiovascular regulation. Oxytocin stimulates specific receptors (OXTR) and vasopressin receptors (V1aR) in different organs. In the central nervous system, it regulates the activity of several groups of neurons and may exert either stimulatory or inhibitory effects, depending on the site of action. The predominant effects of the action of oxytocin in the central nervous system involve reduced activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system and enhanced activation of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. Abbreviations: AP—area postrema; MnPO—median preoptic nucleus; NTS—nucleus tractus solitarii; OVLT—organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis; PVN—paraventricular nucleus; RVLM—rostral ventrolateral medulla; 3rd—third ventricle; 4th—fourth ventricle.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The role of vasopressin in cardiovascular regulation. Vasopressin stimulates specific types of receptors (V1aR, V1bR, and V2R) in various organs. In the central nervous system, it regulates the activity of several groups of neurons and exerts either stimulatory or inhibitory effects, depending on the site of action. Consequently, the effects of activation of both divisions of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic) can be observed, depending on specific factors provoking activation of the vasopressinergic system. Abbreviations: AP—area postrema; MnPO—median preoptic nucleus; NTS—nucleus tractus solitarii; OVLT—organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis; PVN—paraventricular nucleus; RVLM—rostral ventrolateral medulla; 3rd—third ventricle; 4th—fourth ventricle.
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