Role of atrial natriuretic factor in regulation of blood pressure in normotensive rats having reduced renal mass

Experiments were carried out in normotensive, saline-drinking, 60% reduced renal mass rats to determine the effect of an in vivo blockade of endogenous atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on blood pressure. We used a 60% reduction in renal mass because blood pressure in these normotensive animals is extremely sensitive to any slight further reduction of renal excretory function. Six weeks following the reduction of renal mass and documentation of normotension, rats were injected intraperitoneally twice daily for 12 days with ANF antibody prepared against the C-terminal heptapeptide of AP III conjugated to bovine thyroglobulin. Control rats similarly prepared, received normal rabbit serum (NRS). Blood pressure progressively increased in rats receiving the antibody, and its withdrawal returned blood pressure to control levels within 4-5 days. Serum from either normal rabbits or rabbits immunized with bovine thyroglobulin or peptides unrelated to ANF had no effect on blood pressure in the control animals. These experiments show that in the normotensive saline-drinking rat with reduced renal mass, an antibody to AP III raises blood pressure. This suggests that ANF here is acting to prevent the rise in blood pressure.