[Vasopressin isoreceptors in the liver and kidney: relationship between hormone binding and biological response]

Two type of vasopressin receptors can be distinguished on the basis of their relation to adenylate cyclase. V1 renal receptors are coupled to adenylate cyclase; V2 receptors, present, for example, in liver and blood vessels, are not coupled to adenylate cyclase. V1 and V2 receptors also differ with respect to their abilities to discriminate between several structural analogues of vasopressin. V1 and V2 receptors, present in several cellular and homologous acellular preparations (isolated hepatocytes and live membranes, renal cells in culture and renal membranes), have been characterized using tritiated vasopressin. Dissociation constants for vasopressin binding to intact cells are comparable to dissociation constants for binding to acellular preparations. In all systems studied, a marked amplification of the hormonal signal can be demonstrated.