Arginine vasopressin receptor 1B (AVPR1B) (AVPR1B)

The Arginine vasopressin receptor 1B (AVPR1B), also known as the V1b or V3 receptor, is a G protein-coupled receptor primarily located in the anterior pituitary gland and specific limbic regions of the brain, such as the hippocampus [UniProt P47866, IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology]. Its fundamental biological role is to mediate the effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), typically working in conjunction with corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) to modulate the body's stress response via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis [IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology, StatPearls]. Beyond endocrine regulation, the receptor is involved in complex social behaviors, including aggression and social motivation, as well as the consolidation of emotional memories [UniProt P47866, PubMed PMID: 12169750]. In clinical research, the AVPR1B is a significant target for psychiatric conditions because its overactivation is linked to the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder and various anxiety disorders [PubMed PMID: 12169750, PubMed PMID: 27502311]. Therapeutic strategies have focused on the development of selective small-molecule antagonists, such as Nelivaptan and ABT-436, which aim to alleviate depressive and anxious symptoms by normalizing HPA axis hyperactivity [PubMed PMID: 27502311, ClinicalTrials.gov]. While these drugs have shown promise in reducing stress-induced hormonal surges, clinical development has faced hurdles regarding efficacy consistency and the potential for suppressing necessary physiological stress responses [StatPearls, PubMed PMID: 27502311].

Other names

Vasopressin V1b receptorV1bRV3 receptorPituitary vasopressin receptorAntidiuretic hormone receptor 1B

V1b receptor antagonism