Featured Questions, Comments and Responses

Subject: EM-COM
Question: I would like to know whether ADH and aldosterone are the same hormone? Brigitte, Canada

Answer: Thank-you for your question. Aldosterone is a hormone released by the adrenal glands. It is part of the complex mechanism used by the body to regulate blood pressure. Aldosterone is the main sodium retaining hormone from the adrenal gland. It increases the reabsorption of sodium and water along with the excretion of potassium in the distal tubules of the kidneys. This action raises blood pressure.

Arginine vasopressin; the hormone of Antidiuretic (ADH); AVP; Vasopressin

ADH is a hormone stored in the posterior pituitary gland in the brain. It is the primary regulator of body water. ADH acts on the kidneys to increase total body water. This has the effect of decreasing the plasma concentration, increasing blood volume and increasing blood pressure.

The release of ADH is controlled by cells, called osmoreceptors and baroreceptors. Osmoreceptors are specialized areas in the hypothalamus (an area in the brain). These cells sense the concentration of particles in the blood. When the concentration is high, the pituitary releases more ADH. This stimulates retention of water to dilute the body fluids. When the concentration is low, the pituitary releases less ADH. Baroreceptors are specialized areas in the heart that sense blood volume and blood pressure. The heart signals the pituitary to release more ADH when blood volume or blood pressure are low and less when they are high.

In certain diseases, the normal release of ADH is altered necessitating the need to test the serum level of ADH