Role Of Atrial Peptide Research Articles

Is there a role for atrial peptides in the labyrinthine “disease”?

The important role of atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) in regulating blood pressure and changing vascular permeability has been widely studied and assessed during the last ten years. Considering the characteristics of this mechanism, which is responsible for a hypotensive and hypovolemic effect, and the possible role of hypotension associated with a default of autoregulatory sympathetic reactions in inner ear unexplained disorders, it seems reasonable to hypothesize a possible involvement of ANP system in the genesis of such disorders. As a matter of fact, the presence of specific receptors for ANP in the inner ear has been widely reported in studies concerning both rat and human inner ear, although their precise role in the labyrinthine homeostasis has not been satisfactory explained until now. Some aspects concerning vascular and fluid regulation of the inner ear under different conditions still remain not totally clear, and consequently a detailed explanation to the possible mechanism causing inner ear disorders of functional origin is lacking; from this point of view, an investigation on the serum level of ANP in subjects with labyrinthine affections of uncertain origin could be of some utility in contributing to assess the role of this system in the inner ear fluid regulation and in the inner ear perfusion and to investigate on the possible influence of an abnormal ANP release in some kind of inner ear damage.

Role of atrial peptide in the acute natriuretic response to uninephrectomy

Unilateral nephrectomy (UNX) is associated with an immediate natriuretic response of the remaining kidney. The role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), as assessed by right atrial appendectomy (APX), was investigated in euvolemic anaesthetized rats. In sham APX rats, UNX resulted in a twofold increase in urinary sodium and potassium excretion (1.03 +/- 0.11 to 2.08 +/- 0.17 and 1.39 +/- 0.05 to 2.26 +/- 0.08 mueq/min, respectively) and a doubling of urinary excretion of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). No significant change in glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, and lithium clearance occurred in response to UNX. APX totally prevented the UNX-induced natriuresis and diuresis as well as the rise in urinary cGMP. Post-UNX plasma concentration of ANP was higher in sham-operated compared with APX rats (45 +/- 9 vs. 20 +/- 2 fmol/ml). In sham APX rats, UNX was associated with a transient (less than 15 min) rise in arterial pressure; in APX rats, this immediate increase in arterial pressure was of similar magnitude but of longer (greater than 30 min) duration. The observed stimulation of ANP release after UNX and the blunting of the natriuretic response to UNX by APX suggest that ANP may be an important mediator of the renal response to contralateral renal ablation.

The Effects of Atrial Peptide in Humans With Chronic Renal Failure

The role of atrial peptide in humans with chronic renal insufficiency is uncertain. Therefore, the effects of synthetic atrial peptide (atriopeptin III, 24 amino acids) infusion on renal function and solute excretion were examined in 16 subjects with chronic renal insufficiency of diverse etiologies. After a two-hour baseline period, atrial peptide was infused for four hours in doses ranging from 0.005 to 0.1 micrograms/kg/min. When all doses were combined, absolute and fractional excretions of sodium increased significantly from baseline values (130 +/- 15 to 231 +/- 28 microEq/min and 3.57 +/- 0.57 to 6.03 +/- 1.26%, respectively, P less than 0.05). Significant increases in urinary excretion of chloride, calcium, and phosphorus were also seen during atrial peptide infusion. Increased absolute and fractional phosphorus excretion persisted during the two-hour postinfusion period, while excretion of other solutes returned to baseline. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increased by greater than 20% in five of 16 subjects. Two subjects with severe renal insufficiency (GFR = 9 and 12 mL/min) had no apparent response to atrial peptide infusion. Subjects receiving doses of 0.05 and 0.1 microgram/kg/min had significant falls of mean arterial pressure by the last hour of infusion. A dose-dependent effect of atrial peptide on sodium excretion was suggested, but not statistically significant. No apparent dose-dependent effect was seen on GFR or other solute excretions. Despite the presence of chronic renal insufficiency, atrial peptide increased renal solute excretion in most subjects. The demonstration that atrial peptide retains its diuretic and natriuretic effect in the presence of renal insufficiency supports the hypothesis that atrial peptide plays an important adaptive role in sodium homeostasis of the failing kidney.

Role of atrial peptide in the natriuresis and diuresis that follows relief of obstruction in rat

The present studies demonstrate that endogenous levels of atrial peptide are significantly elevated in the plasma of rats with bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) compared with control rats or rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction. The contribution of endogenous atrial peptide to the natriuresis and diuresis that follows release of BUO was examined by the intravenous infusion of heparin with or without the exogenous administration of atrial peptide. Infusion of heparin, which binds atrial peptide and interferes with its biological effect, decreased the natriuresis and diuresis observed after release of BUO. Heparin administration also markedly blunted the natriuresis and diuresis observed after exogenous administration of atrial peptide following release of BUO in rats. In contrast, heparin administration did not decrease the natriuresis and diuresis seen in the experimental kidney after relief of unilateral ureteral obstruction. The finding of increased plasma levels of atrial peptide in rats with bilateral ureteral obstruction together with the decrease in diuresis and natriuresis observed with the administration of heparin after release of BUO in these animals indicate that endogenous levels of atrial peptide contribute to the natriuresis and diuresis that occur after release of BUO in rats.

Atrial natriuretic peptides in man.

Research on the physiological role of atrial peptides in man is limited, and the potential for these peptides, or more stable analogues, in therapeutics is uncertain. It is clear, however, that plasma levels of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (IR-ANP) are increased in volunteers taking a high sodium diet, and are elevated in patients with heart failure, chronic renal failure, and primary aldosteronism. There is suggestive evidence that IR-ANP levels are increased also in essential hypertension, although overlap with normotensives is considerable. Injection or infusion of atrial peptides into man results in a diuresis, an increased output of urine electrolytes, a fall in blood pressure and a rise in heart rate, suppression of aldosterone and sometimes of renin also, and stimulation of norepinephrine. In essential hypertensives, urinary effects may be greater than in normotensives. Heart failure patients show a rise in cardiac output and falls in both systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure. Over the next few years and especially if specific antagonists can be developed, the physiologic and pathophysiologic roles of atrial peptides in normal man and in clinical disorders should be clarified. It is possible that stable analogues of atrial peptides will find a place in the treatment of cardiac failure, renal failure, and perhaps hypertension.

Role of Atrial Peptides in the Physiologic Regulation of Endocrine Systems in Conscious Dogs

Role of Atrial Peptides in the Physiologic Regulation of Endocrine Systems in Conscious Dogs

George E. Brown memorial lecture. Role of atrial peptides in body fluid homeostasis.

Extracts of mammalian atria, but not ventricles, induce marked diuresis, natriuresis, and reduction in blood pressure when infused systemically in rats and dogs. These extracts also inhibit aldosterone biosynthesis and renal renin release. Natriuretic peptides, 21 amino acids and longer, have been isolated from atria of rodents and man, and share a nearly homologous amino acid sequence at the carboxyterminus. Natriuretic activity resides in a 17-amino acid ring formed by a disulfide bridge, and the C-terminal Phe-Arg appears necessary for full biological potency. The deoxyribonucleic acid-encoding atrial natriuretic peptides have been cloned and the gene structure elucidated. Reduction of the diuretic and natriuretic responses to an acute volume load by right atrial appendectomy first suggested a role for atrial peptides in the physiological response to plasma volume expansion. Subsequently, release of peptides with natriuretic and spasmolytic properties from isolated heart preparations in response to right atrial distension was demonstrated by bioassay and radioimmunoassay. The presence of these peptides in normal rat and human plasma in concentrations of 20-100 pM, and the findings of increased levels in response to acute and chronic plasma volume expansion, rapid atrial tachyarrhythmias, systemic hypertension, congestive heart failure, and renal insufficiency imply that they play an important role in body fluid homeostasis. The mechanisms by which atrial peptides increase renal salt and water excretion are as yet unclear. Renal vascular effects have been consistently demonstrated, and limited evidence for direct actions on tubule ion transport has also been reported recently. In vitro, these peptides cause precontracted vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle to relax, mediated by a direct action on smooth muscle cells. Specific receptors for these peptides have been characterized in crude membranes prepared from whole kidney homogenates and adrenal glomerulosa cells, in intact glomeruli and cultured glomerular mesangial cells, and in intact bovine aortic smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Natriuretic peptides stimulate cyclic guanosine monophosphate accumulation in target tissues, and augment particulate guanylate cyclase activity in membrane fractions, suggesting that cyclic guanosine monophosphate is the second messenger mediating their cellular action.