vasopressin

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vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH) (vay-zoh-press-in) n. a hormone, released by the pituitary gland, that increases the reabsorption of water by the kidney and causes constriction of blood vessels. Synthetic vasopressin (Pitressin) is administered by injection to treat diabetes insipidus and to control bleeding from oesophageal varices.

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