Effects of antiserum against alpha-rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide in spontaneously hypertensive rats

To clarify the physiological role of endogenous atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), we investigated the effects of specific rabbit antiserum against alpha-rat ANP (alpha-rANP) on hemodynamics, diuresis, and natriuresis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Intravenous administration of anti-alpha-rANP antiserum caused an obvious rise of mean blood pressure and cardiac output in both SHR and WKY compared with rats administered with normal rabbit serum. Although there was no significant difference in increments of mean blood pressure between SHR and WKY, the increment of cardiac output in SHR was significantly higher than that in WKY. On the other hand, significant reductions in urine output and urinary sodium and potassium excretion lasted for approximately 20 min after administration of the antiserum in both SHR and WKY compared with rats administered with normal rabbit serum. There was no significant difference in these initial maximal decrements between SHR and WKY. These results indicate that endogenous ANP has an important physiological role in the regulation of hemodynamics and water-electrolyte balance in both SHR and WKY. The greater increment of cardiac output in SHR in response to the antiserum suggests that endogenous ANP in SHR may have a stronger cardiosuppressive action that it does in WKY.