Evaluation of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Atrial Granules of Rats with Experimental Congestive Heart Failure

The natriuretic peptides are believed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of congestive heart failure (CHF). We utilized a quantitative cytomorphometric method, using double immunocytochemical labeling, to assess the characteristics of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in atrial granules in an experimental model of rats with CHF induced by aortocaval fistula. Rats with CHF were further divided into decompensated (sodium-retaining) and compensated (sodium-excreting) subgroups and compared with a sham-operated control group. A total of 947 granules in myocytes in the right atrium were analyzed, using electron microscopy and a computerized analysis system. Decompensated CHF was associated with alterations in the modal nature of granule content packing, as depicted by moving bin analysis, and in the granule density of both peptides. In control rats, the mean density of gold particles attached to both peptides was 347.0 ± 103.6 and 306.3 ± 89.9 gold particles/μm2 for ANP and BNP, respectively. Similar mean density was revealed in the compensated rats (390.6 ± 81.0 and 351.3 ± 62.1 gold particles/μm2 for ANP and BNP, respectively). However, in rats with decompensated CHF, a significant decrease in the mean density of gold particles was observed (141.6 ± 67.3 and 158.0 ± 71.2 gold particles/μm2 for ANP and BNP, respectively; p < 0.05 compared with compensated rats, for both ANP and BNP). The ANP:BNP ratio did not differ between groups. These findings indicate that the development of decompensated CHF in rats with aortocaval fistula is associated with a marked decrease in the density of both peptides in atrial granules, as well as in alterations in the quantal nature of granule formation. The data further suggest that both peptides, ANP and BNP, may be regulated in the atrium by a common secretory mechanism in CHF.

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Elevated Plasma C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs0870319 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 87 (3) ◽

pp. 319-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Kazuhito Totsune ◽

Kazuhiro Takahashi ◽

Osamu Murakami ◽

Fumitoshi Satoh ◽

Masahiko Sone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Congestive Heart Failure ◽

Renal Failure ◽

Chronic Renal Failure ◽

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide ◽

Brain Natriuretic Peptide ◽

Natriuretic Peptide ◽

Heart Association ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Atrial Natriuretic

1. C-type natriuretic peptide is a neuropeptide, which is also produced by the vascular endothelial cells. Plasma immunoreactive C-type natriuretic peptide concentrations in patients with various diseases have not yet been studied. 2. Plasma immunoreactive C-type natriuretic peptide concentrations were studied by radioimmunoassay in normal subjects, patients with congestive heart failure, non-dialysed patients with chronic renal failure and haemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. The C-type natriuretic peptide levels were compared with the levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide. 3. Plasma immunoreactive C-type natriuretic peptide concentrations were greatly elevated in patients with chronic renal failure [non-dialysed, 13.0 ± 4.2 pmol/l (mean ± SEM), n = 9, P < 0.01) compared with normal subjects (4.4 ± 0.4 pmol/l, n = 26); haemodialysis, 16.1 ± 2.1 pmol/l, n = 13, P < 0.01], but not in patients with congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class II-IV, 3.0 ± 0.7 pmol/l, n = 11, P > 0.05). Plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide concentrations were elevated both in patients with congestive heart failure and in haemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. 4. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography showed that immunoreactive C-type natriuretic peptide in plasma from normal subjects and haemodialysis patients was eluted in the positions of C-type natriuretic peptide −22 and −53. 5. These findings suggest that C-type natriuretic peptide is a non-cardiac circulating hormone and participates in the cardiovascular regulation in a different manner from atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide.

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