Renal actions of atrial natriuretic factor: a mathematical modeling study

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a peptide hormone that increases renal NaCl and water excretion. Several renal sites of ANF action have been identified, but general agreement has not been reached concerning the quantitative contribution of each action to the natriuresis and diuresis. Using a five-nephron central core model of NaCl, urea, KCl, and water transport in the rat kidney, we have quantitatively evaluated the hypothetical effects on whole kidney function of three experimentally observed ANF actions: 1) inhibition of active NaCl absorption in the collecting duct, 2) inhibition of osmotic water permeability in the collecting duct, and 3) increased NaCl and water delivery out of the proximal convoluted tubule simulating an increase in glomerular filtration rate. The simulations show that inhibition of collecting duct active NaCl absorption by greater than or equal to 50% can increase NaCl and water excretion to levels that match experimental values. In addition, the model predicted that the urinary sodium concentration will increase to greater than plasma levels as observed experimentally. Simulated decreases in collecting duct water permeability predicted an increase in water excretion with little change in NaCl excretion. Simulated 2.5-5% increases in glomerular filtration rate also increased simulated NaCl and water excretion rates to experimentally observed levels in response to ANF. However, this action was less effective than inhibition of collecting duct active NaCl absorption in increasing the urinary NaCl concentration. We conclude that a combination of several actions are likely to account for the overall renal effect of ANF.