Atrial natriuretic factor responses to volume expansion in pregnant and nonpregnant sheep

Isotonic volume expansion results in atrial natriuretic factor release by cardiac myocytes. Because pregnancy produces well-established alterations in fluid homeostasis and cardiovascular function, changes in atrial natriuretic factor responses may also occur. This study compares plasma atrial natriuretic factor responses to short-term volume expansion in pregnant and nonpregnant sheep. Seven pregnant and six nonpregnant ewes were chronically instrumented and subjected to a series of four experiments consisting of a control group (no infusion) and groups that received 10 ml/kg, 25 ml/kg, and 40 ml/kg isotonic saline infusion over a 30-minute period. The order of the experiments was random and separated by greater than or equal to 48 hours. Plasma atrial natriuretic factor, osmolality, right atrial pressure, blood pressure, and urine flow were measured over a 150-minute observation period. After volume expansion, plasma atrial natriuretic factor levels rose significantly from 39 +/- 4 pg/ml (mean +/- SEM) to 49 +/- 7 pg/ml, 36 +/- 4 pg/ml to 62 +/- 19 pg/ml, and 39 +/- 6 pg/ml to 67 +/- 14 pg/ml in the nonpregnant group 10 ml/kg, 25 ml/kg, and 40 ml/kg experiments, respectively. In the pregnant groups, plasma atrial natriuretic factor levels rose from 50 +/- 2 pg/ml to 75 +/- 20 pg/ml, 43 +/- 5 pg/ml to 57 +/- 5 pg/ml, and 46 +/- 4 pg/ml to 67 +/- 7 pg/ml, respectively. Differences in atrial natriuretic factor responses were not seen between pregnant and nonpregnant groups at any volume expansion level. As expected, atrial pressure and urine flow significantly increased after all volume expansion experiments. Pregnant and nonpregnant groups were similar with respect to atrial pressure and urine flow responses. Over various volume expansion levels significant associations were seen between atrial pressure, atrial natriuretic factor, and urine flow. These relationships were unaltered by pregnancy. In summary, atrial natriuretic factor responses to volume expansion do not appear to differ between pregnant and nonpregnant sheep.