Effect of a ring-deleted atrial natriuretic factor analogue on ovine fetal renal and cardiovascular function

The proposed actions of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) are mediated through specific plasma membrane (R1) receptors coupled to guanylate cyclase. A second receptor, R2, has been characterized by its ability to bind to an acyclic, truncated ANF analog (C-ANF4-23). The ANF-R2 receptor has not been identified in the fetus. Our study was conducted to determine the effects of C-ANF on fetal renal and cardiovascular function and plasma ANF clearance rates. Chronically catheterized ovine fetuses (n = 6) at 111 to 117 d gestation (term 145 d) received a C-ANF infusion (1 microgram/min/kg) for 30 min followed by a combined infusion of C-ANF and ANF (C-ANF, 1 microgram/min/kg; ANF, 100 ng/min/kg) for an additional 30 min. C-ANF infusion significantly increased (mean +/- SEM) plasma ANF concentration (437 +/- 45 to 1067 +/- 297 pg/mL), urinary flow rate (0.26 +/- 0.04 to 0.38 +/- 0.07 mL/min/kg), sodium excretion (12.9 +/- 3.5 to 21.7 +/- 6.1 mumol/min/kg), and osmolar clearance (0.14 +/- 0.02 to 0.21 +/- 0.04 mL/min/kg) (p less than 0.05). The combined C-ANF/ANF infusion further increased plasma ANF concentration to 2394 +/- 532 pg/mL and resulted in significant increases in urinary flow rate, sodium excretion, osmolar clearance, GFR, and free water clearance compared with C-ANF infusion alone (p less than 0.05). These renal responses, however, were not significantly different from the responses to ANF infusion alone (100 ng/min/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)