What is the function of antidiuretic hormone? Thanks

1 Answer
Feb 21, 2018

Anti diuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, helps to control blood pressure by acting on the kidneys and the blood vessels.

Explanation:

ADH is synthesised as a peptide prohormone in neurons in the hypothalamus and is converted to Arginine vasopressin.

ADH regulates the tonicity of body fluids. It causes the kidneys to reabsorb solute free water and return it to the circulation from the tubules of the nephrons, thus returning the tonicity of the body fluids towards normal. An incidental consequence of this renal absorbtion of water is concentrated urine volume.

Thus ADH acts to mantain blood pressure, blood volume and tissue water content by controlling the amount of water and hence the concentration of urine excreted by the kidneys. Higher concentration of ADH cause blood vessels to constrict and this increases blood pressure.