Distribution of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP)-containing cells in the rat heart and pulmonary vein Immunohistochemical study and radioimmunoassay

Summary The distribution of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) was immunohistochemically surveyed in the rat heart and lung using an antiserum raised against -human ANP. The ANP-immunoreactive cells were seen to be distributed in the atrial walls and proximal portions of the pulmonary vein and venae cavae, but were absent from the aorta, pulmonary arteries, trachea, bronchus, and alveolar cells. The immunoreactive cells were present in a narrow region just beneath the endothelium of the pulmonary vein and vena cavae, and, ultrastructurally and immunocytochemically, were seen to be striated muscle cells with ANP-containing specific granules similar to those seen in atrial cardiocytes. A radioimmunoassay for ANP revealed a content of 604±51 pg/mg wet weight in the pulmonary vein, and 3343±1620 pg/mg wet weight in the venae cavae. In addition to the atrial wall, the proximal portion of both the pulmonary vein and venae cavae are suggested to be constituents of an ANP-producing organ.     

Immunohistochemical identification of Purkinje fibers and transitional cells in a terminal portion of the impulse-conducting system of porcine heart

Summary The ultrastructure of porcine ventricular tissue was studied by electron microscopy and immunocytochemical techniques. Electron-dense specific granules were found in both Purkinje fibers and transitional cells in the ventricular walls, and were positively stained by the immunogold staining method using an antiserum against atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP). This suggests that both the Purkinje fibers and transitional cells display the same specific granules as atrial cardiocytes containing ANP. These results demonstrate that Purkinje fibers and two types of transitional cells, in addition to the ordinary ventricular cardiocytes, can be identified in porcine ventricular wall tissue.     

Atrial-specific granules in the hearts of normal and water-deprived rats

Summary The morphology of atrial-specific granules, which contain atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), was studied in the cardiac tissue of untreated controls and water-deprived rats by means of conventional and immunoelectron microscopy. Immature secretory vesicles or granules appeared to become buded off from the Golgi cisternae and then fused to form specific A-granules. An electron-dense plate with a fuzzy coat was frequently found on the limiting membrane at the end of such fusion. Pale specific B-granules, which were less electron-dense, larger, and more granular than A-granules, were found in small numbers in the left atrial cardiocytes, but rarely in the right ones. Very pale granules with a less granular matrix, considered to be B-type granules which had lost their electron-density, and which had less immunoreactivity for ANP, were numerous in the cardiac tissue after water deprivation. This morphological change, which is interpreted as an indication of granule degradation, was in agreement with the noted increase of natriuretic activity in the atrial tissue of water-deprived specimens.     

Effects of expansion of blood volume and bilateral vagotomy on specific heart granules and release of atrial natriuretic peptide in the rat

Summary There was no statistically significant difference in basal concentrations of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), as assessed by radioimmunoassay, between right and left atrial muscle of control rats; similarly, stereological analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the fractional volume of myocytes occupied by specific heart granules, or in numerical density of granules, between right and left atria. Nevertheless, correlated radioimmunoassay and ultrastructural investigations showed that the major source of elevated plasma levels of ANP after expansion of blood volume was the right atrium. Substantial expansion of blood volume caused an increase in the proportion of peripherally located granules in myocytes of both atria, but reduction in the number of granules and in the concentration and total content of ANP occurred in the right atrium only. Bilateral cervical vagotomy also caused a statistically significant elevation of plasma ANP concentration, accompanied by a statistically significant reciprocal reduction in right atrial ANP content; no statistically significant change occurred in left atrial ANP. When blood volume was expanded after bilateral vagotomy, there was a further statistically significant increase in plasma ANP concentration; this was accompanied by further reduction in right atrial ANP and, moreover, the combined manoeuvre also elicited a statistically significant reduction of ANP in the left atrium. Ultrastructural studies confirmed that, under these conditions, myocytes in both atria showed a marked depletion of specific heart granules.     

Microtubule-associated distribution of specific granules and secretion of atrial natriuretic factor in primary cultures of rat cardiomyocytes

A close spatial relationship between specific granules containing atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and microtubules was demonstrated in primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. For the detection of specific granules and microtubules, the myocytes were double immunolabelled with antibodies against -ANF and -tubulin and examined by conventional fluorescence or laser scanning confocal microscopy. In addition, the ultrastructural distribution of specific granules was demonstrated by electron microscopy. In the atrial myocytes, ANF was stored in numerous specific granules that were mainly localized in the perinuclear sarcoplasm. In the ventricular myocytes, however, a minority of the cells (10%) exhibited limited ANF immunoreactivity after 4 days in culture. Microtubules were present throughout the sarcoplasm of the myocytes. They were most densely packed in the perinuclear regions. Depolymerization of the microtubules with nocodazole was followed by dispersal of ANF immunostaining both in the atrial myocytes and in the ventricular myocytes exhibiting ANF immunoreactivity. When the microtubules were allowed to recover, the perinuclear distribution of specific granules, as seen in non-treated myocytes, reappeared. Measurements of secreted immunoreactive ANF by radioimmunoassay revealed that the secretion of ANF from atrial myocytes into the medium was significantly reduced following nocodazole treatment, whereas a similar decrease in secretion from ventricular myocytes was not observed. These findings indicate that ANF-containing specific granules are closely associated with microtubules within the myocytes. It is suggested that secretion of ANF from the atrial myocytes, in contrast to the ventricular myocytes, is microtubule-dependent.     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of granules in atrial appendage cardiocytes in different physiological states

Summary Atrial appendage cardiocytes of mammals, including man, contain multiple cytoplasmic granules that vary in number in different physiological states. Using morphologic and comprehensive morphometric techniques, these granules were assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats following dehydration for 5 days, volume-loading by substituting 1% NaCl as drinking water for 7 days, unilateral nephrectomy plus volume-loading for 7 days, and in late term pregnant animals (18–20 days; term 21 days). Although principally located in the paranuclear region, granules were observed throughout the sarcoplasm. Cytological features indicative of synthetic activity and granule formation were readily apparent in all groups with the exception of pregnant rats where they were infrequently observed. Granule contents were released by exocytosis and observed in the right appendage of control, dehydrated and nephrectomy/volume-loaded groups and left appendage of volumeloaded animals. Exocytosis was not observed in pregnant animals. By point counting, the proportional volume of cardiocytes occupied by granules (V _v ) in controls was significantly greater for right than for left appendage (2.12±0.22% vs 1.29±0.16%; mean±SEM;p<0.05). A significantly similar difference was found for nephrectomy/volume-loaded animals. There was no significant difference inV _v for right appendage between the control and experimental groups; for left appendage there was a significant increase inV _v to 2.42±0.09% (p<0.05) for volume-loaded animals only. Estimation of the maximum diameter of granule profiles in control animals was 238±9 nm and 230±6 nm for right and left appendages, respectively. The profile diameters in the left appendages of dehydrated (202±9 nm) and pregnant (200±7 nm) animals were significantly (p<0.05) less than those of the control animals. The morphometric findings did not correlate with predictions based upon published biochemical data. In the course of this study, a previously unreported bimembranous, circular to ovoid structure was observed in the cardiocyte sarcoplasm of all animals; the nature and function of this structure is unknown.     

Chicken atrial natriuretic peptide (chANP) and its secretion

Summary An immunohistochemical study using antiserum raised against synthetic chicken natriuretic polypeptide was used to investigate the distribution of this peptide in the chicken heart. Immunoreactive cells, both in the atrial and ventricular walls, were identified by electron microscopy, and electron-dense granules in the atrial and ventricular cardiocytes were revealed to be storage sites of the peptide. The electron-dense material, thought to be the peptide, was found in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and it is suggested that a secretory pathway of the peptide through the latter to extracellular space, may be present, in addition to an exocytotic one.     

Quantitative analyses of atrial myoendocrine cells and plasma atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) of the rat with special reference to the twenty-four-hour variations in secretory granules and plasma ANP concentrations

Summary Subcellular structures of atrial myoendocrine cells in the rat heart and plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) were examined at six evenlyspaced time points over 24 h, using morphometric techniques and radioimmunoassay.Myofibrils and mitochondria of the cells occupied 73.3% of the cytoplasm; 2% of the cytoplasm was occupied by secretory granules, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes, structures characteristic of endocrine cells. Plasma ANP concentration was maximal at 08.00 h, when the individual volume of secretory granules was minimal. The numerical density of secretory granules was increased at 12.00 h. The plasma ANP concentration was minimal at 20.00 h, when the numerical density was minimal and the individual volume was maximal. The fluctuation in plasma ANP concentrations over 24 h was thus parallel to that in the numerical densities of secretory granules and inverse to that in individual volumes.These results suggest that in rats the secretory activity of atrial myoendocrine cells increases at the beginning of the resting period, whereas it decreases at the beginning of the active phase.     

Immunohistochemical localisation of natriuretic peptides in the heart and brain of the gulf toadfish Opsanus beta

Summary The distribution of natriuretic peptide immunoreactivity was determined in the heart and brain of the gulf toadfish Opsanus beta using the avidin-biotin peroxidase technique. Four antisera were used: the first raised against porcine brain natriuretic peptide which cross-reacts with atrial natriuretic and C-type natriuretic peptides (termed natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity); the second raised against porcine brain natriuretic peptide which cross-reacts with C-type natriuretic peptide but not with atrial natriuretic peptide (termed porcine brain natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity); the third raised against rat atrial natriuretic peptide; and the fourth raised against eel atrial natriuretic peptide. Natriuretic peptide- and porcine brain natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity was observed in all cardiac muscle cells of the atrium. In the ventricle, natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity was found in all cardiac muscle cells, however porcine brain natriuretic peptidelike immunoreactivity was confined to muscle cells adjacent to the epicardium. There was no discernible difference in the distribution of natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity and porcine brain natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity in the brain. Immunoreactive perikarya were observed only in the preoptic region of the diencephalon, and many immunoreactive fibres were found in the telencephalon, preoptic area, and rostral hypothalamus, lateral to the thalamic region. There was no immunoreactivity in any region of the hypophysis. A pair of distinct immunoreactive fibre tracts ran caudally from the preoptic area to the thalamic region, from which fibres extended to the posterior commissure, area praetectalis, dorsolateral regions of the midbrain tegmentum, and tectum. Many immunoreactive fibres were present in the rostral regions of the inferior lobes of the hypothalamus and in the dorsolateral and ventrolateral aspects of the rhombencephalon. No immunoreactivity was observed in the heart and brain using rat atrial natriuretic and eel natriuretic peptide antisera. Although the chemical structure of natriuretic peptides in the heart and brain of toadfish is unknown, these observations show that a component of the natriuretic peptide complement is similar to porcine brain natriuretic and/or porcine C-type natriuretic peptides. The presence of natriuretic peptides in the brain suggests that they could be important neuromodulators and/or neurotransmitters.     

Morphometric analysis of atrial natriuretic peptide-containing granules in atriocytes of rats with experimental congestive heart failure

The morphometric characteristics of atrial natriuretic peptide-containing granules were studied in atrial myoendocrine cells of rats with aorto-caval fistula, an experimental model of congestive heart failure. A total of 6680 granules of control and aorto-caval rats were analyzed by a computerized image analysis system that evaluated the number and sectioned surface area of granules and their subcellular location. Compared with control animals, rats with congestive heart failure displayed a slight increase in the number of peripheral granules, adjacent to the sarcolemma, but not centrally located in the Golgi areas. The mean sectioned surface area of granules in rats with congestive heart failure was about 50% of that in controls, both in the right and left atria. Rats with aortocaval fistula had a higher percent of small granules and lower percent of large granules compared with controls. The data demonstrate different morphometric characteristics in atrial natriuretic peptide-containing granules in atriocytes in rats with experimental congestive heart failure; this may reflect the enhanced synthesis and release of atrial natriuretic peptide in heart failure.     

Atrial natriuretic factor in the impulse-conduction system of rat cardiac ventricles

Summary A complex network of atrial natriuretic factor-producing cells has been delineated by biochemical and morphological techniques in the rat ventricular myocardium. The chordae tendineae spuriae (CTS; false tendons) contain ANF mRNA and the ANF propeptide (Asn 1-Tyr 126) as assessed by Northern blot analysis, high-pressure liquid chromatography and immunohisto- and -cytochemistry, using three different affinity-purified antibodies: monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against C-terminal ANF (Arg 101-Tyr 126) and polyclonal antibodies against N-terminal ANF (Asp 11-Ala 37). Two types of cells harboring ANF-containing secretory granules constitute the CTS: the majority (Purkinje type I) have ultrastructural similarities with both atrial and classical Purkinje fibers. Purkinje type-II fibers resemble working ventricular cardiocytes. Both cell types harbor a large paranuclear Golgi complex. The subendocardial Purkinje network is also made up of these two cell types. In this location, Purkinje type-I fibers form cable-like structures while Purkinje type-II fibers are either located beneath the former or abut directly on the endocardium. The latter are not separated from adjacent working ventricular cardiocytes by connective tissue septa. Coronary arteries and arterioles, as in birds, are surrounded by a cushion of Purkinje type-II fibers which blend with the surrounding myocardium. These results indicate that, in the rat, the entire intraventricular conduction system is constituted of endocrine cells producing ANF.Supported by a Medical Research Council of Canada Group Grant to the Multidisciplinary Research Group on Hypertension, by the National Research Council of Canada, the Pfizer Company (England), Bio-Méga Inc. and the Canadian Heart Foundation     

Localization of wheat-germ agglutinin-binding sites in the Golgi complex of cultured rat atrial myocytes

Summary In the Golgi region of cultured rat atrial myocytes, condensed secretory protein was seen in Golgi-associated tubules or cisternae which lay beyond, and often separated from, the remainder of the Golgi stacks. These structures appeared to be involved in packaging of condensed secretory protein into atrial granules. Binding sites of HRP-conjugated wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA) in saponin-treated cultured atrial myocytes were examined by electron microscopy with special reference to atrial granules and the tubular structures associated with the Golgi stacks. HRP reaction products were observed in both trans-cisternae of the Golgi stacks and the associated tubular structures. While the majority of atrial granules were devoid of reaction products, some granules, which were connected to the WGA-positive tubular structures in the vicinity of the Golgi trans-cisternae, showed HRP reaction products at their connected necks. Similar results were obtained when sections of the cells embedded in Lowicryl K4M were labeled with WGA coupled to colloidal gold (G-WGA); the Golgi complex was G-WGA positive, whereas no specific binding of G-WGA to atrial granules was observed. These results suggest that glycoproteins and/or glycolipids with oligosaccharides recognized by WGA in the Golgi transcisternae, may be separated from atrial natriuretic peptides which are packaged into atrial granules.Abbreviations ANP atrial natriuretic peptide - HRP horseradish peroxidase - M199 medium 199 - TGN trans-Golgi network - WGA wheat-germ agglutinin - G-WGA WGA coupled to colloidal gold     

Distribution of atrial natriuretic factor in fetal rat atria and ventricles

Summary An immunohistochemical study of rat fetal hearts at 20 days of gestation revealed the presence of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in cardiocytes of the left and right atria as well as in certain cells is the left and right ventricles. In the atria, cells of the adluminal pectinate muscles appear more densely labeled than the more peripheral mural cells. In the ventricles, immunoreactive cells were found only in adluminal cardiocytes of the presumptive trabeculae and papillary muscles. The results indicate that ANF is synthesized in the perinatal heart, and that the presence of this hormone in the ventricular cardiocytes may be of only temporary nature during certain stages of pre- and postnatal development.Supported by Miami Valley Chapter of American Heart Association MVH-86-019 and MVH-86-010     

Ontogenetic development of synovial A cells in fetal and neonatal rat knee joints

Summary Ontogenetic development of the synovial A cells in fetal rat knee joints was investigated by immunohistochemistry, immuno-electron microscopy, cultivation, and autoradiography. At day 17 of gestation, immature macrophages were first seen in the articular interzone, and thereafter they differentiated into macrophages (synovial A cells), which were found in the synovial intima. The degree of reactivity of macrophages with five monoclonal antibodies increased in the developing synovial membranes of fetal rats as shown by immunohistochemistry. Similar findings were obtained in organ cultures of fetal knee joints. A marked difference of proliferative potential was found between A and B cells during ontogeny. A cells after birth did not incorporate ³H-thymidine in contrast to B cells. Before birth, B cells had a labelling index which was at least five times larger than that of A cells. The results of this study indicate that the synovial A cells are derived from both monocytes and fetal macrophages circulating in peripheral blood and that they differ from the synovial B cells in morphology, differentiation, and proliferative potential.     

Immunohistochemical study on fetal raphe samples transplanted into the leptomeningeal tissue of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine-treated adult rats

Summary Pieces of fetal midbrain raphe containing serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons were transplanted into the leptomeningeal tissue (see Fig. 3) of adult host rats that had previously been denervated by treatment with 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine. One, 2 and 5 months after transplantation, the rate of neuronal survival in the grafted tissue and the extent of axonal outgrowth into the host brain were studied by use of serotonin and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry. The survival rate of the grafts in the 1-month group was approximately 70%. Neurons containing either serotonin or catecholamine were demonstrated by means of immunocytochemical procedures in the grafts. Two and 5 months after transplantation, serotonin-immunoreactive nerve fibers were densely distributed throughout the graft tissue, while TH-immunoreactive fiber elements were restricted to an area near the somata of TH-positive neurons. Numerous serotonin-immunoreactive fibers derived from the transplant were found in the leptomeningeal tissue surrounding the graft, on the wall of neighboring blood vessels, and also in the adjacent parenchyma of the host brain. Outgrowing TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers were not observed in the host brain, although such elements occurred in the leptomeningeal tissue and the wall of the larger blood vessels. These results suggest that the serotonergic and catecholaminergic (dopaminergic) neurons located in transplants of the raphe nuclei show different patterns when reinnervating the host tissue.     

Immunohistochemical demonstration of calbindin-containing nerve endings in the rat esophagus

Immunoreactivity for calbindin was found in nerve endings with irregular laminar shapes in the rat esophagus. In the myenteric ganglia, laminar endings of a range of sizes formed a complex network and appeared to lie at the surface of the ganglion. The myenteric ganglia that contained nerve endings were most abundant in the upper portion of the eosphagus, their number decreasing orally to anally. Calbindin-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies were scattered throughout the esophagus. Laminar terminals were found in the connective tissue of the lamina propria immediately beneath the epithelium and in the muscularis mucosae. Occasional nerve branches formed a network of aborizing endings that surrounded part of the submucosal arterioles. Immunoreactive nerve endings in the mucosa and submucosa were present only in the upper part of the cervical esophagus. Unilateral vagotomy caused a remarkable decrease in the number of the myenteric ganglia containing the calbindin-immunoreactive laminar endings after 15 days or survival; in some of ganglia, the laminar structures disappeared and nerve endings showing weak immunoreactivity had an indistinct appearance, so that the outline of the ganglia became obscure. In operated rats at 24 days, the number of innervated ganglia was about half that in normal rats. However, there was no change in the morphology and the occurrence of the immunoreactive laminar structures in the mucosa and submucosa after denervation. The results show that many of the laminar endings that are immunoreactive for calbindin in the myenteric ganglia are derived from the vagus nerve. Thus, the calbindin-immunoreactive nerve endings with laminar expansions that are found in the rat eosphageal wall could be sensory receptors.     

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural localisation of peptide-containing nerves and myocardial cells in the human atrial appendage

Summary The innervation and myocardial cells of the human atrial appendage were investigated by means of immunocytochemical and ultrastructural techniques using both tissue sections and whole mount preparations. A dense innervation of the myocardium, blood vessels and endocardium was revealed with antisera to general neuronal (protein gene product 9.5 and synaptophysin) and Schwann cell markers (S-100). The majority of nerve fibres possessed neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity and were found associated with myocardial cells, around small arteries and arterioles at the adventitial-medial border and forming a plexus in the endocardium. Subpopulations of nerve fibres displayed immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, somatostatin, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. In whole-mount preparations of endocardium, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivities were found to coexist in the same varicose nerve terminals. Ultrastructural studies revealed the presence of numerous varicose terminals associated with myocardial, vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity was localised to large electron-dense secretory vesicles in nerve terminals which also contained numerous small vesicles. Atrial natriuretic peptide immunoreactivity occurred exclusively in myocardial cells where it was localised to large secretory vesicles. The human atrial appendage comprises a neuroendocrine complex of peptidecontaining nerves and myocardial cells producing ANP.     

Regional appearance of atrial natriuretic peptide in the ventricles of infarcted rat hearts

The appearance of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the ventricular myocardium was investigated in rat hearts subjected to severe left ventricular infarction. The left coronary artery was ligated for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 days and for 3 weeks, and the tissue was prepared for microscopic examination of immunoreactive ANP and for electron microscopy. In the normal and sham-operated hearts, and in hearts subjected to 1 day of coronary ligation, ANP immunoreactivity was restricted to a few ventricular myocytes of the conduction system. Following 2–3 days of coronary ligation, ANP immunoreactivity was detected in the viable myocardium of the lateral border of the infarct and in a few layers of viable cardiac myocytes located in the subendocardial areas of the ischemic left free ventricular wall. Further, during the following days and after 3 weeks of coronary ligation, a gradient of specific labeling was commonly seen across the lateral border area of the infarct. Thus, the strongest immunoreactivities were present in the cardiac myocytes located adjacent to the non-contracting myocardium. Electron microscopic examination of the immunoreactive cardiac myocytes confirmed the presence of electron-dense specific granules within these cells. The present findings suggest that the increased regional production of ANP within the ventricular myocardium is induced by increased mechanical stretch of the cardiac myocytes, and that this might contribute to the increased release of ANP in myocardial infarction.     

Aging and photoperiod affect the daily rhythm pattern of atrial natriuretic peptide in the rat atrium

This study investigates the release characteristics of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from young (10 weeks) and old (22 months) rat atrium. Levels of ANP release from samples of atrium were studied by organ perifusion. Rats were exposed to light:dark (LD) cycles of 12:12 or 18:6 and sacrificed at different zeitgeber time (ZT) points: ZT0, ZT6, ZT8, ZT12, ZT16, and ZT19 for LD 12:12 or ZT0, ZT9, ZT16, ZT18, ZT20, and ZT 21.5 for LD 18:6. The heart was collected, and the right atrium was removed, weighed, and perifused with Krebs-bicarbonate buffer for 100 min, including a period of 50 min for stabilization of secretion rate. ANP concentrations released by atrium did not differ between the two age groups either under LD 12:12 or under LD 18:6, except at the light:dark transition under LD 12:12 conditions where ANP levels were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in young compared to old rats. ANP exhibited daily variations in concentrations under LD 12:12, with a peak during the beginning of photophase (ZT0) in young rats and a peak at the beginning of scotophase (ZT12) in old animals. These variations were strongly modified under LD 18:6, where the pattern of the release exhibited a peak during the light phase at ZT16 in both young and old rats. This strongly suggests that the atrial ANP rhythm is dependent on the environmental light:dark cycle. Moreover, the total ANP levels released by atria in old rats were significantly increased under LD 18:6 compared to standard LD 12:12. This observation strongly suggests that old animals are more sensitive to a photoperiodic change. In conclusion, our results show that ANP concentrations in the rat atrium exhibit daily variations which are significantly affected by the daylength (photoperiod) change in aged rats.     

Expression of atrial natriuretic factor gene in heart ventricular tissue

A novel peptide hormone, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), was recently isolated and characterized in mammalian atria. This hormone has potent natriuretic, diuretic and vasorelaxant activities. Since ANF bioactivity was initially found in atria but not in ventricles, it was assumed that the ANF gene is specifically expressed in atria. We now report that ANF mRNA is present in ventricular tissue as well as in atria. This is clearly demonstrated by in situ hybridization and by Northern blot analysis. Rat ventricular ANF mRNA concentration is a hundred-fold lower than in atria. As in atria, the 126 amino acids precursor form of ANF is predominant in ventricles and it is present at a thousand-fold lower concentration. The ten-fold discrepancy in the ratio of ANF mRNA to immunoreactivity between atria and ventricles could reflect a higher rate of peptide release in the latter. Thus, ventricular ANF production may be physiologically significant in view of the much larger ventricular mass.