Chicken hypotensive peptide: purification and characterization

We have purified and isolated a novel, hypotensive peptide from avian ventricular tissue. Ventricular homogenates have been shown to exhibit potent hypotensive activity in the avian and mammalian species, with little natriuresis or diuresis. Using avian mean arterial pressure (MAP) as a bioassay, we were able to purify a peptide which decreased MAP 30% in adult, female chickens. Amino acid analysis indicated that it contained 20 amino acids (including two cysteine residues), and was not similar to the amino acid composition of mammalian atrial natriuretic factors, or other known hypotensive peptides.