Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide on renal arterioles: morphometric analysis using microvascular casts

In normal rat kidneys, the effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on the diameter of the arterioles was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy of vascular casts. Acryl resin was infused into rat kidneys during the administration of ANP, either alone or with norepinephrine (NE). ANP infusion constricted the proximal efferent arteriole in the superficial cortex. Although NE constricted the proximal and distal segments of the afferent arteriole in the superficial cortex, the addition of ANP reversed the constriction and further constricted the efferent arteriole. In the deep cortex, only the proximal segment of the afferent arteriole was dilated by ANP when infused with NE. In a separate set of experiments, ANP increased both the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urinary sodium excretion (UNaV), and NE decreased the renal blood flow (RBF). However, administration of ANP after NE recovered RBF and increased GFR as well as UNaV. Results indicate that ANP increases GFR and natriuresis by constricting the efferent arteriole. NE appears to decrease RBF by constricting the afferent arteriole. ANP antagonizes the renal effects of NE primarily by dilating afferent arterioles.