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June 29, 2026Nature CommunicationsOpen Access

The role of supraoptic hypothalamic arginine vasopressin neurons in aging-associated water balance and thermoregulatory deficits in male mice

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Why the study?

Aging impairs thermoregulation, metabolism, and water balance, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear.

Does targeting AVP signaling in SON AVP neurons improve age-related homeostatic dysfunction in male mice?

Population

Male mice

Design

Preclinical animal study

Key result

Hyperactivity of supraoptic hypothalamic arginine vasopressin neurons drives aging-associated hypothermia, reduced energy expenditure, and suppressed water intake in male mice.

Authors

NMNancy MoronesPJPredrag JovanovićASAnna Magdalena Sanetra

Discussion

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Overview

Preclinical mouse data warrant no clinical changes; leaves open human translation of AVP neuron targeting for age-related deficits.

Key Points

  • To explore the role of supraoptic hypothalamic arginine vasopressin neurons in age-related physiological dysfunctions.
  • Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing to assess transcript levels in hypothalamic neurons.
  • Chemogenetic activation and knockdown of Avp to observe effects on thermoregulation, metabolism, and water balance in young and aged mice.
  • Pharmacological studies targeting V1A and V2 receptors to understand the mediating effects of AVP signaling.
  • Aged SONAVP neurons exhibited increased size and excitability, correlating with the observed physiological deficits.
  • Activation of SONAVP neurons in young mice caused reduced energy expenditure and hypothermia, mimicking aging effects.
  • AVP knockdown in aged mice improved water balance and partially restored thermoregulation and metabolism.

Structured PICO

Does targeting AVP signaling in SON AVP neurons improve age-related homeostatic dysfunction in male mice?

P
Population
Young (3-4 months) and aged (22-24 months) mice studied to identify neural mechanisms driving age-associated loss of homeostatic resilience.
I
Intervention
Chemogenetic activation of SON AVP neurons (young mice), knockdown of Avp in the SON (aged mice), and pharmacological targeting of V1A and V2 receptors
C
Comparator
Control mice / baseline
O
Outcome
Thermoregulation, metabolism, and water balancesurrogate

Hyperactive supraoptic hypothalamic vasopressin neurons drive age-related homeostatic dysfunction in male mice, and targeting AVP signaling partially restores physiological function.

Limitations

  • Thermoregulatory rescue by AVP knockdown in aged mice was modest, likely constrained by diminished peripheral heat-generating capacity.
  • Senolytic therapy (D+Q) improved systemic metabolism but did not restore SON AVP function or reduce hypothalamic inflammation.
  • Sex-specific differences were observed, with AVP-dependent thermoregulatory changes absent in females.

Cite This Study

Morones et al. (2026) studied Aging-associated physiological decline. Modulation of SON AVP neurons (chemogenetic activation, shRNA knockdown, receptor antagonists) vs. Control mice (young, saline-treated, or control shRNA) was evaluated on Water intake, core temperature, and energy expenditure. Hyperactivity of supraoptic hypothalamic arginine vasopressin neurons drives aging-associated hypothermia, reduced energy expenditure, and suppressed water intake in male mice.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a420b51f91bb43ea91927aahttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74819-x
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