Increased synthesis and secretion of atrial natriuretic polypeptide during viral myocarditis

To elucidate the pathophysiological role of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) in diseased hearts, ANP levels in atrial and ventricular tissues and plasma were investigated in mice with congestive heart failure after viral myocarditis. The study was performed on day 14 after encephalomyocarditis viral inoculation, when congestive heart failure developed. The atrial ANP level increased to a value two times higher than that of noninoculated age-matched mice (the control mice). The ventricles of the control mice contained an approximately 1,000-fold lower ANP level than the atrial ANP level. The ventricular ANP concentration of the infected mice showed about a 21 times higher level than the control value. The plasma ANP level was also elevated 20 times. On immunofluorescence studies, increase of immunostaining were found in the atrial of the infected mice, and positive staining appeared on the cardiocytes in almost all areas of the remaining ventricular tissues of the infected mice, whereas staining was not found on the ventricles of the control mice. The staining seemed particularly strong in the area surrounding the myocardial lesions. These results indicate that atrial and ventricular ANP synthesis and ANP secretion increase in the heart with viral myocarditis. The marked increase in the ventricular ANP level suggests that the ventricle is another important production site for circulating ANP.