To evaluate the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in exercise-related cardiovascular and hormonal adjustments in hypobaric conditions, 14 young athletes performed a maximal ergometer test in a hypobaric chamber adjusted to simulate the altitudes of sea level and 3,000 m. Plasma immunoreactive ANP levels rose from 5.89 to 35.1 pmol/l at sea level and rose significantly less (P less than 0.05), from 5.36 to 22.3 pmol/l, at simulated 3,000 m. Plasma immunoreactive amino-terminal peptide of proANP (NT-proANP) levels increased to the same extent at sea level and at simulated 3,000 m (from 240 to 481 pmol/l and from 257 to 539 pmol/l, respectively). Plasma immunoreactive aldosterone increased significantly less at simulated 3,000 m (P less than 0.05), but the changes in plasma renin were similar in both conditions. Plasma immunoreactive endothelin-1 and serum erythropoietin levels remained unchanged. In conclusion, we found a blunted ANP response to maximal exercise of ANP in acute hypobaric exposure compared with that in normobaric conditions, but no significant difference in the NT-proANP responses between the two conditions. The divergence may be due to stimulation of the elimination mechanism of ANP.
Atrial natriuretic peptide secretion and body fluid balance after bilateral atrial appendectomy by the maze procedure
