Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in conscious rats with reduced renal mass

The effect of salt intake and reduction of renal mass (RRM) on plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (iANP) levels in conscious rats was studied. Rats were divided into RRM and sham-operated groups, and then further subdivided into groups infused with 1 or 6 mEq of sodium per day. Plasma urea nitrogen increased in the groups with RRM. Plasma sodium, sodium balance, and heart rate did not differ between the sham and RRM groups. Rats with RRM maintained on 1 mEq of sodium per day did not have an elevation of water intake, arterial pressure, or plasma iANP. Rats with RRM maintained on 6 mEq of sodium per day had significantly (P less than 0.05) elevated water intake, arterial pressure, and plasma iANP. Arterial pressure and plasma iANP were correlated (r = 0.800) for rats with RRM on either 1 or 6 mEq of sodium per day. Increased plasma iANP in the RRM group on 6 mEq per day was not caused by either RRM or high sodium alone; it was an effect of RRM plus high salt intake. The increase in plasma iANP in the RRM group may be caused by the increase in arterial pressure, possibly due to an increase in extracellular fluid volume. ANP may not be responsible for the sustained increase in fractional sodium excretion observed in RRM.     

Dissociation between plasma and atrial content of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) following sodium load in rats

To investigate the time course effect of sodium intake on release and synthesis of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), plasma and atrial content of ANP were measured in rats which had been fed either a high or a low salt diet for 1, 3, 7, 14 and 35 days. Plasma ANP in rats fed the high salt diet for one day was significantly higher than in those fed the low salt diet. However, there were no significant differences between the groups fed either the high or the low salt diet for 3 days or more. In contrast to the direction of change in plasma ANP, atrial content of ANP in rats fed the high salt diet for one day tended to be lower and was significantly lower in those fed for 3 and 7 days than in the low salt diet group, while there were no significant differences between both groups that were fed for 14 and 35 days. These results suggest that ANP is rapidly released into the circulation when sodium is loaded, however, the atrial storage of ANP remains depleted for about one week.     

Effect of daily hyperhydration on fluid-electrolyte changes in endurance-trained volunteers during prolonged restriction of muscular activity

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of a daily intake of fluid and salt supplementation on fluid and electrolyte losses in endurance-trained volunteers during prolonged restriction of muscular activity (hypokinesia). The studies were performed on 30 long-distance runners aged 23–26 who had a peak oxygen uptake of 65.5 mL/kg/min and had taken 13.8 km/d on average prior to their participation in the study. The volunteers were divided into three groups: The volunteers in the first group were placed under normal ambulatory conditions (control subjects), the second group of volunteers subjected to hypokinesia alone (hypokinetic subjects), and the third group of volunteers was submitted to HK and consumed daily 0.1 g sodium chloride (NaCl)/kg body wt and 26 mL water/kg body wt (hyperhydrated subjects). The second and third group of volunteers were kept under an average of 2.7 km/d for 364 d. During the pre-experimental period of 60 d and during the experimental period of 364 d sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in urine and plasma were determined. Blood was also assayed for osmolality, hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma volume, plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone. Mean arterial blood pressure was also determined. In the hyperhydrated volunteers plasma volume and arterial blood pressure increased, whereas plasma osmolality, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and urinary excretion and concentrations of electrolytes in plasma decreased. In the hypokinetic volunteers, plasma volume and arterial blood pressure decreased significantly, whereas hematocrit values, hemoglobin concenfration, plasma osmolality, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and electrolytes in urine and plasma increased significantly during the experimental period. It was concluded that chronic hyperhydration may be used in minimizing fluid and electrolyte losses in endurance-trained volunteers during prolonged restriction of muscular activity.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits water and sodium intake in rabbits

The effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on water and sodium intake was investigated in wild rabbits, a species which does not drink water following i.c.v. or i.v. administration of angiotensin II but develops sodium appetite following i.c.v. infusion of angiotensin II. ANP was given during or after depletion of extracellular fluid volume: hemorrhage, fluid deprivation and administration of furosemide. Systemically administered ANP reduced the water, but not the sodium intake of wild rabbits. I.c.v. administration of ANP inhibited both water and sodium intake. The suppression of thirst following both i.v. and i.c.v. administration of ANP indicates that inhibition of the effect of angiotensin II is not the exclusive mechanism and the circumventricular organs are probably not the exclusive sites of action for ANP. The inhibition of sodium appetite in wild rabbits was consistent with earlier proposals that ANP acts through the inhibition of the effects of angiotensin II. Reduction of food intake coincident with administration of ANP was also noted, but dose-dependent decrease was not observed.     

肾大部切除、高盐摄食对SD大鼠脑心房钠尿肽的影响

为探讨脑内心房钠尿肽（ＡＮＰ）的作用,本工作采用ＳＤ大鼠,用放射免疫方法测定３／４肾大部切除与高盐摄食后脑内ＡＮＰ的含量。结果表明,对照组大鼠脑内ＡＮＰ分布广泛。３／４肾切除大鼠每日饮水量,尿量均比对照组高（Ｐ＜０．０５）,尿钠浓度低于对照组时,脑内ＡＮＰ含量尽管略有增加,但１０个核团（下丘脑室周核、弓状核、室旁核、视前室周核、中缝背核、尾壳核、杏仁核、脑桥背侧部、蓝斑和大脑皮质）ＡＮＰ含量和对照组无明显差别（Ｐ＞０．０５）。高盐摄食组每日饮水量和尿量均比对照组高,且尿钠浓度高于对照组,同时下丘脑室周核和弓状核ＡＮＰ含量比对照组高（Ｐ＜０．０５）。上述结果提示,大脑第三脑室前腹侧区（ＡＶ３Ｖ区）的ＡＮＰ可能在水盐调节上发挥重要作用。     

High salt intake attenuates the development of hypertension in two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt rats.

Effects of high salt intake on the early onset of hypertension were examined in two-kidney, one-clip rats. They were divided into high salt and control groups which were supplied with 1.0% NaCl and tap water, respectively, as a drinking solution for 12 days after clipping the left renal artery. The high salt group showed a lower plasma renin concentration and a higher plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) along with an attenuation of the magnitude of early hypertension, as compared with the control group. A significant positive correlation between blood pressure and plasma renin concentration and an inverse correlation between plasma renin concentration and ANP were shown. Cortical renal renin content was comparable between the two groups. In another two groups of sham-clipped rats, the high salt group did not differ from the tap water-drinking group in any of the parameters examined, except that ANP was significantly higher. These results demonstrate that high salt intake attenuates the developmental phase of hypertension in two-kidney, one-clip rats by increasing the ANP and suppressing the release of renin.     

ANP在大鼠高血压进展为心力衰竭中的作用

目的：探讨心房钠尿钛ANP 在高血压心力衰竭发展过程中的变化和氨氯地平保护心肌细胞的作用。方法：对大鼠行腹主动 脉结扎术，术后随机选择40 只大鼠分为氨氯地平（中、高、低剂量）组以及模型组，另外选取10 只健康雄性SD 大鼠作为假手术 组。采用ELISA 方法检测各组血清ANP 浓度变化。结果：随着心功能不全加重，ANP 水平逐渐上升。氨氯地平用药组大鼠的心功 能改善明显优于模型组，ANP 明显降低，且随着氨氯地平用药量上升，心功能不断改善，ANP显著下降，P<0.05。结论：对血清 ANP浓度进行测定能够反映出高血压大鼠模型心室功能不全及充血性心力衰竭严重程度。而氨氯地平能够影响机体的ANP 分 泌对心肌细胞起到保护作用，从而有效抑制心室重构，延缓高血压心力衰竭疾病进展。     

Effect of high and low sodium intake on urinary aquaporin-2 excretion in healthy humans

The degree of water transport via aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channels in renal collecting duct principal cells is reflected by the level of the urinary excretion of AQP2 (u-AQP2). In rats, the AQP2 expression varies with sodium intake. In humans, the effect of sodium intake on u-AQP2 and the underlying mechanisms have not previously been studied. We measured the effect of 4 days of high sodium (HS) intake (300 mmol sodium/day; 17.5 g salt/day) and 4 days of low sodium (LS) intake (30 mmol sodium/day; 1.8 g salt/day) on u-AQP2, fractional sodium excretion (FE(Na)), free water clearance (C(H2O)), urinary excretion of PGE(2) (u-PGE(2)) and cAMP (u-cAMP), and plasma concentrations of vasopressin (AVP), renin (PRC), ANG II, aldosterone (Aldo), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in a randomized, crossover study of 21 healthy subjects, during 24-h urine collection and after hypertonic saline infusion. The 24-h urinary sodium excretion was significantly higher during HS intake (213 vs. 41 mmol/24 h). ANP and BNP were significantly lower and PRC, ANG II, and Aldo were significantly higher during LS intake. AVP, u-cAMP, and u-PGE(2) were similar during HS and LS intake, but u-AQP2 was significantly higher during HS intake. The increases in AVP and u-AQP2 in response to hypertonic saline infusion were similar during HS and LS intake. In conclusion, u-AQP2 was increased during HS intake, indicating that water transport via AQP2 was increased. The effect was mediated by an unknown AVP-independent mechanism.     

Fluid consumption, electrolyte excretion and heart remodeling in rats with myocardial infarct maintained on regular and high sodium intake.

The purpose of the study was to determine effect of high sodium intake on fluid and electrolyte turnover and heart remodeling in the cardiac failure elicited by myocardial infarction (MI). The experiments were performed on four groups of Sprague Dawley rats maintained on food containing 0.45% NaCl and drinking either water (groups 1, 2) or 1% NaCl (groups 3, 4). Groups 1 and 3 were sham-operated while in groups 2 and 4 MI was produced by the coronary artery ligation. In each group food and fluid as well as sodium intake, urine (Vu), sodium (UNaV), potassium (UKV) and solutes (UosmV) excretion were determined before and four weeks after the surgery. Size of the infarct, left ventricle (LV) weight and diameter of LV and right ventricle (RV) myocytes were determined during post-mortem examination. Before the surgery groups 3 and 4 ingested significantly more fluid and sodium, had higher Vu, UNaV, UKV and UosmV than the respective groups 1 and 2. In groups 2 and 4 MI resulted in significant decrease in Vu, UNaV and UosmV in comparison to the pre-surgical level. In Group 4 MI resulted also in a significant decrease of food and sodium intake. The MI size did not differ in groups 2 and 4 while diameter of LV myocytes was significantly greater in groups 2 and 4 than in groups 1 and 3, and in group 4 than in group 2. The study reveals that prolonged high sodium consumption increases fluid and electrolyte turnover both in the sham and in the MI rats and that the MI causes decrease in food and sodium intake in rats on high but not on regular sodium intake. In addition high sodium diet promotes development of greater post-MI hypertrophy of the LV myocytes.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide in acute mountain sickness

To test the hypothesis that elevated atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may be involved in altered fluid homeostasis at high altitude, we examined 25 mountaineers at an altitude of 550 m and 6, 18, and 42 h after arrival at an altitude of 4,559 m, which was climbed in 24 h starting from 3,220 m. In 14 subjects, symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) were absent or mild (group A), whereas 11 subjects had severe AMS (group B). Fluid intake was similar in both groups. In group B, urine flow decreased from 61 +/- 8 (base line) to 36 +/- 3 (SE) ml/h (maximal decrease) (P less than 0.05) and sodium excretion from 7.9 +/- 0.9 to 4.6 +/- 0.7) mmol.l-1.h-1 (P less than 0.05); ANP increased from 31 +/- 4 to 87 +/- 26 pmol/l (P less than 0.001), plasma aldosterone from 191 +/- 27 to 283 +/- 55 pmol/l (P less than 0.01 compared with group A), and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from 1.0 +/- 0.1 to 2.9 +/- 1.2 pmol/l (P = 0.08 compared with group A). These variables did not change significantly in group A, with the exception of a decrease in plasma aldosterone from 189 +/- 19 to 111 +/- 17 pmol/l (P less than 0.01). There were no measurable effects of elevated ANP on natriuresis, cortisol, or blood pressure. The reduced diuresis in AMS may be explained by increased plasma aldosterone and ADH overriding the expected renal action of ANP. The significance of elevated ANP in AMS remains to be established.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Body fluid volume status and the renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide in rats.

The effect of altering the volumes of different body fluid compartments on the renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was studied in anesthetized rats before and during administration of the peptide at 170 ng/min. Four different groups were used. In the first (De), reduction of total body water content was induced by 48 h water deprivation. In the second (De+NaCl), an acute intravenous infusion after the same 48 h dehydration was used to restore the extracellular, but not the intracellular, fluid compartment. In the third (Eu+NaCl), euvolemic rats were infused with isotonic saline at the same rate as in group De+NaCl to expand both intravascular and interstitial components of extracellular fluid. In the fourth group (Eu+BSA) an infusion of hyperoncotic (6%) bovine serum albumin in isotonic saline was used to expand the intravascular volume while contracting the interstitial volume. Excretion of water and salt was predictably reduced in the De group compared with the others. This reduction was associated with increased tubular reabsorption, both upstream from the medullary collecting duct and in the duct itself. Administration of ANP did not significantly affect diuresis and saluresis, or tubular transport. By contrast, there were marked and similar diuretic and natriuretic responses to ANP in groups De+NaCl and Eu+NaCl, associated with transport inhibition primarily in the medullary collecting duct. Surprisingly, the rats infused with hyperoncotic solution (Eu+NaCl) also failed to show marked excretory or duct transport responses to ANP. According to the study design, the two nonresponding groups had, respectively, a decreased or a normal intracellular compartment, and a decreased or increased plasma volume. The common feature of both nonresponding groups was a decreased interstitial fluid compartment, whereas the two responding groups had normal or increased interstitial volume. We suggest, therefore, that a replete interstitial fluid compartment is essential for the renal response to ANP.     

Renal effects of administered atrial natriuretic peptide in the conscious, aging rat

Studies were performed in conscious, chronically catheterized male Sprague-Dawley rats to investigate the effect of administered atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on blood pressure, renal hemodynamics and urinary electrolyte excretion. Studies were performed on young adult (3-4 month old) rats and on aging rats (18-24 months of age). Low dose ANP (80 ng/kg/min for 60 min) had no effects on renal hemodynamics in either young or old rats and produced only a slight blood pressure reduction in young animals. No effect on urinary electrolyte excretion was evident in young rats whereas in the old animals, low dose ANP produced large rises in the rate of sodium excretion, fractional excretion of sodium and urine flow rate. A four fold higher dose of ANP evoked a moderate natriuretic and a marked antihypertensive response in young rats. Time control studies indicated that time alone had no influence on urinary sodium excretion rate, the fractional excretion of sodium or urine flow rate. These studies indicate a much enhanced sensitivity to the natriuretic effects of administered ANP by the kidneys of old rats.     

Atriopeptin does not augment the transvascular flux of macromolecules in the hamster cheek pouch.

Natriuretic peptides elaborated by atrial myocytes promote marked renal sodium and water excretion as a mechanism for fluid and electrolyte balance. Recent evidence suggests that atriopeptin (ANP) also targets the non-renal vasculature as a site for enhanced fluid exchange. It remains unclear whether ANP alters microvascular integrity to facilitate the efflux of both plasma and proteins across the endothelial barrier, or if fluid exchange is selectively enhanced. This study evaluated the influence of ANP on macromolecular transport through the direct observation of microvessels in the hamster cheek pouch using fluorescent intravital microscopy. Fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated to either bovine serum albumin or dextran 150,000 Mw was utilized as a permeability probe. Macromolecular efflux was quantified as fluorochrome clearance. The clearance of fluorescein-conjugated bovine serum albumin (57.94 +/- 7.03) or fluorescein-conjugated dextran 150 (4.09 +/- 1.35) remained unaltered by intravascular injection of 1 microgram/kg ANP. Topical application of 40 ng to cheek pouch microvessels produced similar results. All pouches demonstrated positive leakage response to histamine 2.5 x 10(-6) M, increasing fluorochrome clearance approximately 2- to 11-fold. Bolus injection of 1 microgram/kg ANP reduced mean arterial pressure, increased urine flow from 6.63 +/- 2.59 microliters/min to 8.20 +/- 6.13 microliters/min, and elevated sodium excretion from 1.37 +/- 0.49 microEq/min to 2.54 +/- 0.99 microEq/min. These results suggest that ANP fails to significantly alter the integrity of the protein-transporting channels in the microvascular exchange barrier.     

Effect of short-term administration of vasopressin on arterial pressure and norepinephrine turnover in Long-Evans rats

Vasopressin (AVP) in acute experiments has been shown to influence cardiovascular reflexes, but the effect of a more prolonged administration of AVP on the sympathetic nervous system has not been investigated. Long-Evans rats were treated for 7 days with AVP (Pitressin tannate in oil, with single daily doses of 100 or 500 mU.100 g-1, s.c.) to determine whether AVP alters norepinephrine (NE) turnover in kidney, intestine, or skeletal muscle. Control rats were given equal doses of peanut oil daily. NE turnover was determined by measuring the decline in tissue levels of NE for 8 h after inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (300 mg.kg-1, i.p. every 4 h). Measurements of water intake, urine output, and urine osmolality showed that chronic administration of the high dose, but not the low dose, of AVP produced maintained increases in urine osmolality and decreases in water intake and urine output. Body weight, plasma osmolality, plasma electrolytes, and hematocrit were not significantly altered by AVP treatment, but mean arterial pressure was elevated significantly (control, 105 +/- 3 mmHg versus AVP, 119 +/- 4 mmHg, p less than 0.05) (1 mmHg = 133.3 Pa) in the high dose group. Plasma renin activity was decreased slightly, but significantly in rats treated with the high dose of AVP. Compared with results in control animals, there were no statistically significant changes in NE turnover after chronic administration of either the low or the high dose of AVP. The results indicate that administration of AVP for 7 days to rats in normal fluid balance does not result in a decrease in NE turnover in peripheral organs.     

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with Graves' disease

In order to clarify the effect of thyroid hormone on the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration, 14 patients with Graves' disease and 6 normal control subjects were studied. They were all under constant sodium intake because dietary sodium is known to affect the amount of plasma ANP. Sodium intake remained constant at 171 mEq daily for five consecutive days at which time the ANP concentration was measured. Graves' disease patients were tested both before and after surgery. The preoperative, hyperthyroid ANP level concentration in Graves' disease patients was 6.7 +/- 2.3 fmol/ml compared to a significantly lower level of 4.2 +/- 1.4 fmol/in normal control subjects. Seven days after surgery when Graves' disease patients became euthyroid their ANP markedly decreased to 4.2 +/- 2.9 fmol/ml. In the present study we were able to confirm that under a constant sodium diet, high plasma ANP in patients with Graves' disease was reduced after surgery when they became euthyroid. Results also suggest that high circulating ANP might play an important role in sodium and water metabolism and hemodynamic changes in hyperthyroidism.     

Reduced natriuresis after oral sodium load in cholestatic rats: role of compartment volumes and ANP

The purpose of this study was to assess the participation of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-cGMP system in electrolyte and volume handling of cholestatic rats submitted to an acute oral sodium load. Cholestasis was induced by ligation and section of the common bile duct (n = 51). Control rats were sham operated (n = 56). Three weeks after surgery, 24-hr urinary volume, sodium, potassium, cGMP and creatinine excretion were measured. Three days later, animals received 10 mmol/kg NaCl (1 M) by gavage, and urinary excretion was measured for 6 hr. In parallel groups of rats, plasma volume, electrolytes and ANP concentration, extracellular fluid volume (ECFV), and renal medullary ANP-induced cGMP production were determined in basal conditions or 1 hr after oral sodium overload. As compared with controls, cholestatic rats had a larger ECFV and higher plasma ANP (67.2 +/- 5.2 vs 39.7 +/- 3.5 pg/ml), but lower hematocrit and blood volume, and were hyponatremic. Cholestatic rats showed higher basal excretion of sodium, potassium, and volume than controls, but equal urinary cGMP. After the NaCl overload, cholestatic rats showed a reduced sodium excretion but equal urinary cGMP. One hr after sodium overload, both groups showed hypernatremia, but whereas in control rats ECFV and ANP increased (50.7 +/- 4.1 pg/ml), in cholestatic rats ECFV was unchanged, and plasma volume and ANP were reduced (37.5 +/- 5.8 pg/ml). ANP-induced cGMP production in renal medulla was similar in cholestatic and control nonloaded rats (14.2 +/- 5.2 vs 13.4 +/- 2.6 fmol/min/mg). One hr after the load, medullary cGMP production rose significantly in both groups, without difference between them (20.6 +/- 3.1 vs 22.7 +/- 1. 7 fmol/min/mg). We conclude that the blunted excretion of an acute oral sodium load in cholestatic rats is associated with lower plasma ANP due to differences in body fluid distribution and cannot be explained by renal refractoriness to ANP.     

Role of atrial natriuretic peptide in mineralocorticoid escape phenomenon in patients with primary aldosteronism

The withdrawal effect of spironolactone treatment on natriuresis was studied in relation to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in five patients with primary aldosteronism due to adenoma. The patients had been treated with spironolactone for 2-3 months before they were admitted. After admission, blood pressure, body weight, and urinary excretion of sodium were measured daily. Venous samples were obtained twice a week for measurements of plasma levels of ANP, plasma renin activity (PRA), and plasma concentrations of aldosterone (PAC), cortisol, and deoxycorticosterone. The study was performed for 7 days during the treatment with spironolactone and for 18 days after stopping the administration. Plasma volume was determined two times, during the control period and on the 13th day after stopping spironolactone. Urinary sodium excretion decreased initially and returned to the control levels successively. Body weight and plasma volume increased, and blood pressure rose steadily. PRA and the plasma concentrations of cortisol and deoxycorticosterone decreased significantly (P less than 0.05); however, high levels of PAC did not alter significantly. Plasma ANP levels increased significantly (P less than 0.05) from 26 +/- 4 pg/ml during the control period to 195 +/- 47 pg/ml on the 13th day after stopping spironolactone. The data of the urinary sodium excretion showed the escape from sodium-retaining effect of aldosterone, and this escape could be explained by the increase in plasma ANP. Furthermore, ANP might contribute to the decrease in cortisol and deoxycorticosterone in plasma because of the direct inhibitory action of ANP on steroidogenesis.     

Renal actions of atrial natriuretic peptide on the postischemic kidney

The objective of this study was to evaluate the renal actions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the unilateral postischemic kidney of anesthetized dogs with a severe reduction in glomerular filtration rate. The dose of atrial natriuretic peptide (50 ng.kg-1.min-1) we gave did not alter the mean systemic arterial pressure, renal blood flow, and glomerular filtration rate in the normal kidney, as determined in foregoing studies. ANP was infused into the intrarenal artery continuously for 60 min after the release from 45 min of complete renal artery occlusion. In the vehicle-infused group, the glomerular filtration rate fell dramatically (6% of control), the renal blood flow decreased (60% of control), and the mean systemic arterial pressure tended to increase (136% of control). The urine flow rate and urinary excretion of sodium decreased significantly (25 and 25%, respectively) at 30 min after reflow in the postischemic period. Continuous renal artery infusion of ANP resulted in a marked increase in urine flow rate (246% of control) and the urinary excretion of sodium (286% of control). The administration of ANP led to an improvement in renal blood flow (99% of control) and glomerular filtration rate (40% of control), and attenuated the rise in mean systemic arterial pressure (109% of control), compared with findings in the vehicle-infused group. Plasma renin activity and prostaglandin E2 concentration in the renal venous blood were elevated after the release from complete renal artery occlusion in both groups. These results indicate that the vascular effects of ANP on the postischemic kidney were enhanced and that the peptide maintained the natriuretic effect.     

Effect of sodium intake on fasting and postprandial levels of atrial natriuretic factor in humans

The effect of chronic dietary sodium intake on fasting and postprandial plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) levels was examined in 2 studies of normal humans. In Study I, 3 separate groups of normals (n = 8 for each) received diets of either low (L), normal (N) or high (H) daily sodium intake for 7 days. Twenty-four h urines for sodium were obtained on days 6 and 7. Urine sodium excretion for each group was (L) 13.1 +/- 3.7, (N) 150.1 +/- 19.4 and (H) 271.3 +/- 33.6 mEq/day. On the completion of day 7, fasting plasma ANF showed no change with alteration in sodium intake. In contrast, when blood samples were obtained postprandially, significant increases in plasma ANF were observed in the group maintained on high sodium diet. In Study II, a continuous group of normals (n = 8) received the 3 sodium controlled diets for 7 days sequentially (L/N/H). No significant changes in fasting levels of ANF were detected between L/N/H sodium diets. In conclusion, these studies show that the maintenance of sodium balance during chronic changes in sodium intake can occur despite no significant increase in plasma ANF under normal steady state conditions. However, plasma ANF is significantly elevated during chronic high sodium intake, when measured postprandially.     

Water metabolic parameter changes in rhesus monkeys during exposure to prolonged restriction of motor activity

The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of prolonged restriction of motor activity (hypokinesia [HK]) on several parameters of water metabolism in primates. The studies were performed on 12 rhesus monkeys aged 4–5 yr (5.10–6.85 kg) during the hypokinetic period of 90 d and during the prehypokinetic period of 30 d. They were divided into two equal groups: the first group was placed under ordinary vivarium conditions (vivarium control animals) and the second group was subjected to 90 d of HK (hypokinetic animals). For the simulation of the hypokinetic effect, the primates were immobilized on their abdomens in special tables. The legs of the monkeys were immobilized with hip and knee joints extended. The primates retained freedom of movement at elbow, wrist, and ankle. During the preexperimental period of 30 d and during the experimental period of 90 d, the following variables were determined: body weight, total body fluid content, specific total body fluid, mean fluid consumed and eliminated in urine, specific plasma resistance, hematocrit level, and plasma concentrations of sodium (Na) and potassium (K). In the hypokinetic primates, body weight decreased significantly when compared to the controls. Mean fluid intake, total body fluid, and specific total body fluid decreased, whereas mean daily fluid loss and specific mean daily fluid elimination increased significantly. Specific plasma resistance, hematocrit level, and plasma electrolyte concentrations increased significantly when compared to the control primates. It was concluded that prolonged restriction of motor activity induces significant changes in water metabolic parameters of primates leading in decreased total water content of the body.