Specific receptors for atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells of rat aorta

Specific binding site for atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), a potent natriuretic and vasorelaxant polypeptide recently isolated from mammalian atria, was studied in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of the rat aorta. Binding studies of 125I-labeled-synthetic alpha-human natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) revealed the presence of a non-interacting, single class of high affinity binding sites for alpha-hANP on VSMC in culture: the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) was approximately 1-2 X 10(-9)M and the number of maximal binding sites was approximately 200,000-300,000 sites/cell. A variety of vasoactive substances and other polypeptide hormones did not affect the binding of 125I-labeled-alpha-hANP to its binding sites. alpha-hANP significantly increased the concentrations of intracellular cyclic GMP in VSMC in a dose-dependent manner (3.2 X 10(-9)-1.6 X 10(-7)M). These data indicate that the specific receptor for ANF is present in VSMC and suggest that intracellular cyclic GMP may be involved in its vasorelaxant effect.