Human atrial natriuretic peptide.

Abstract

Atrial peptides have been the subject of increasing attention since de Bold demonstrated that atrial extracts, when administered to anaethetized rats, induced a potent natriuretic and diuretic response (de Bold, 1979; de Bold et al., 198 1). Within 3 years, specific peptides with natriuretic and vasorelaxant activities were isolated, identified and synthesized (Flynn et al., 1983; Kangawa & Matsuo, 1984) to allow studies in experimental animals, including man. These studies have lead to the concept that atrial peptides, secreted in response to increased atrial pressure, are specific hormones with a wide range of renal, haemodynamic and endocrine actions which serve to regulate circulatory volume and blood pressure. Since many aspects of atrial peptide chemistry and physiology in experimental animals have been recently reviewed (Cantin & Genest, 1985; Ballerman & Brenner, 1985; Flynn & Davies, 1985; Needleman et al., 1985; Needleman & Greenwald, 1986), the focus of this review is atrial natriuretic peptide in man.