Secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide from the heart in man.

Abstract

SUMMARY Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide were measured in eight patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterisation and angiography. All patients had normal resting pressures in the cardiac chambers and no clinical evidence of heart failure. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide rose significantly from the superior vena cava into the right atrium and right ventricle. The increase into the right atrium was variable, with no increase in three subjects, but there was a consistent increase in all subjects from the superior vena cava to the right ventricle. These findings in the right atrium are probably caused by inadequate mixing and streaming of blood from the coronary sinus containing high concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide. There was no increase in the concentration of natriuretic peptide from the pulmonary artery to the left ventricle, but the concentrations in the left ventricle were significantly higher than in the superior vena cava.These findings demonstrate that the heart secretes atrial natriuretic peptides in the absence of cardiac failure. Studies based on sampling of the right atrium will not accurately measure cardiac secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide and will therefore be likely to obscure the mechanisms responsible for regulating its secretion. The right ventricle and pulmonary artery are the best sampling sites to measure atrial natriuretic peptide release from the right atrium.There is increasing evidence that atrial natriuretic peptide may be important in the regulation of salt and water balance. We measured plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide in blood samples taken from a peripheral vein, the superior vena cava, and in the chambers of the heart during routine cardiac catheterisation and coronary angiography in patients who had possible ischaemic heart disease but normal cardiac pressures. Patients and methodsThe eight white patients (five men and three women; mean age 60 5 years, range 54-67) studied were

Role of atrial natriuretic factor in lung physiology and pathology.

“…On the other hand, several investigations in humans (63,65,66), in rats in vivo (67), and in isolated perfused guinea pig lungs (68) failed to demonstrate significant extraction by the lungs. In the guinea pig, 750/0 of the bioactivity of crude atrial extracts or synthetic atriopeptin II (SeGo3-Arg125) survived its passage through the lungs (68).…”

Levels of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Are Not Always Consistent With Atrial Pressure: Is There Alternative Regulation as Evidenced in Gordon's and Bartter's Syndromes?

“…Positive correlations between ANP levels and pressure in either or both atria in heart disease have been consistently reported (Dietz et al 1986;Kokubu et al 1986;Raine et a[. 1986;Rodehoffer et al 1986;Sat0 et al 1986;Haass et al 1987a;Singer et al 1987). On the other hand, unexpectedly elevated levels of ANP have been Correspondence: Prof. R. D. Gordon, University Department of Medicine, Greenslopes Hospital.…”

Plasma Neuropeptide Y and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations in Man

“…ANP is a 28 amino acid peptide with natriuretic and vasodilator actions, known to be produced in the heart (de Bold et al 198 I). A number ofgroups have examined the concentrations of ANP at various parts of the circulation in man (Espiner et al 1986;Richards et al 1986;Singer et al 1987) and have demonstrated increased ANP concentrations in the pulmonary artery, reflecting ANP release from the heart. These studies did not, however, control for an effect of cardiac catheterization itself on ANP release.…”