Hormone · Synthetic peptide analog
Desmopressin
Also known as DDAVP
A selective V2 receptor agonist and synthetic vasopressin analog used to investigate renal water transport and aquaporin-2 trafficking in vitro.
- Length
- 9 amino acids
- Half-life
- 1.5 to 2.5 hours in plasma
- Mechanism
- Desmopressin is a synthetic analog of vasopressin that acts as a selective agonist for the vasopressin V2 receptor, with minimal activity at the V1 receptor.
- Studied in
- It is utilized in laboratory models to study renal water reabsorption, V2 receptor signaling, and cellular pathways involving adenylyl cyclase and aquaporin-2.
About Desmopressin
Desmopressin is a synthetic structural analog of the natural pituitary hormone arginine vasopressin. Its structure has two key modifications: deamination of cysteine at position 1 and substitution of L-arginine with D-arginine at position 8. These changes increase its half-life and enhance its selectivity for the V2 receptor over the V1 receptor.
Activation of the Gs-protein coupled V2 receptor, primarily in renal collecting duct cells, stimulates the adenylyl cyclase pathway, leading to increased intracellular cAMP. This cascade promotes the translocation of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channels to the apical membrane, increasing water reabsorption. As a reference compound with a clinical history, desmopressin is a standard tool for studying these cellular mechanisms in renal physiology research.
Laboratory notes
- For cell-based assays, desmopressin is typically dissolved in sterile water or buffered saline.
- Phosphodiesterase inhibitors like IBMX are often co-administered in vitro to potentiate the cAMP-mediated response.
- The trafficking of AQP2 to the cell membrane can be visualized using immunofluorescence microscopy in cultured collecting duct cells.
Storage and reconstitution basics: storage guide.
Questions about Desmopressin
What makes Desmopressin selective for the V2 receptor?
The deamination at position 1 and the D-arginine at position 8 reduce its affinity for the V1 (vasopressor) receptor while maintaining high affinity for the V2 (antidiuretic) receptor.
What is the downstream effect of V2 receptor activation by Desmopressin?
It initiates a signaling cascade that results in the insertion of aquaporin-2 water channels into the apical membrane of renal collecting duct cells.
What is a common use for Desmopressin in a research lab?
It is used as a specific agonist to stimulate V2 receptors in cultured renal cells to study cAMP signaling and water channel regulation.
Is Desmopressin for human use?
No. It is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and is not for human or animal consumption.
Related research peptides
All products are sold for laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption, not a medicine, not for diagnosing, treating or preventing any condition.