# Role of Estrogen Receptors and Neurohypophyseal Gene Expression in Vasopressin Release in a Model of Dilutional Hyponatremia

> **NIH NIH F30** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR · 2024 · $12,735

## Abstract

Purpose: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder and in 2006 the cost of treating
hyponatremia in the US was estimated to be $1.6-$3.6 billion per year. Inappropriate vasopressin
secretion is the major cause of dilutional hyponatremia associated with liver and heart failure. Our
previous studies have also shown that, in male BDL rats, BDNF-TrkB signaling in the SON
contributes sustained AVP and copeptin (a clinical surrogate for AVP 1-3) release, and
hyponatremia 4. However, little is known about the role of sex differences in hyponatremia5. Our
data show that female BDL rats do not develop hyponatremia or increased AVP release6. Instead
female BDL rats show increased release of oxytocin6 . Our findings also suggest that the effects
of BDL on neurohypophyseal hormones may be sexually dimorphic. Our central hypothesis is
that ER in the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS) contribute, at least in part, to sex
differences seen in the BDL model of dilutional hyponatremia.
Our hypotheses will be tested with the following Specific Aims:
Aim 1 will define the contributions of estrogen receptors in hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal
neurons to sex differences in a model of dilutional hyponatremia
Aim 2 will determine differences in SON gene expression that may contribute to underlying sex
differences in AVP release in a model of dilutional hyponatremia
Benefit: These experiments will address an existing gap in our understanding of
neurophypophyseal function and the pathogenesis of hyponatremia. The findings of these
experiments could potentially alter the way that inappropriate vasopressin release is studied and
conceptualized clinically.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10773162
- **Project number:** 5F30HL158145-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** DIANNA HUYEN-TRAM NGUYEN
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $12,735
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-02-01 → 2024-06-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10773162

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10773162, Role of Estrogen Receptors and Neurohypophyseal Gene Expression in Vasopressin Release in a Model of Dilutional Hyponatremia (5F30HL158145-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10773162. Licensed CC0.

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