A possible role of atrial natriuretic peptide in ethanol-induced acute diuresis

The acute effects of ethanol on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels were investigated in 4 clinically healthy males, aged 24-26 years, consumed either 750 ml of water as a control study, or the same beverage with 1 ml/kg alcohol added, which increased the plasma alcohol concentration to 99.12 +/- 15.10 mg/dl at 60 min. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher in the alcohol study compared to the control study at each time point (10, 20, 30, 60, 120 min after drinking onset), and with a peak at 10 min. Atrial natriuretic peptide levels showed a positive significant correlation with plasma antidiuretic hormone in the control group, while no relationship was found between the two peptides in the alcohol study. Moreover, a significant correlation exists between plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels and systolic arterial blood pressure, and heart rate, and between the variations in atrial natriuretic peptide values and the variations in plasma sodium, serum ethanol, and plasma osmolality in the alcohol study. Acute ethanol intake causes an increase in urinary volume, and a decrease in urinary potassium excretion and urinary osmolality, and no change in urinary sodium excretion. These data suggest that acute ethanol administration causes a rapid increase in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, which could be an important factor of ethanol-induced diuresis. The main mechanisms for increased atrial natriuretic peptide release from atria after acute ethanol ingestion seem to be atrial stretch, due to the increase in arterial blood pressure, in heart rate, in sympathetic tone, and in plasma osmolality, and to a direct secretory effect by antidiuretic hormone.