Role of atrial natriuretic peptide on sodium homeostasis in experimental renal failure

In a study of the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in sodium homeostasis in experimental renal failure, we found that a infusion of ANP at 0.25 microgram/min for 15 min produced an increase in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) in five-sixth nephrectomized (5/6 Nx) rats. Renal vascular resistance (RVR) was lower during the base-line period and did not change after the administration of 100 ng/ml ANP to isolated perfused kidney (IPK) from adriamycin-treated rats. Furthermore, fractional excretion of ANP (FEANP) by IPK decreased in kidneys from adriamycin-treated rats as compared to that in kidneys from control rats. Finally, after 5/6 Nx, levels of plasma immunoreactive ANP (ir-ANP) gradually increased but excretion of water and sodium did not change during normal intake of sodium. The increase in levels of ir-ANP was accompanied by an increase in the rates of excretion of water and sodium was observed 2 days later but these rates returned to the base-line values after 2 weeks. These findings suggest that ANP plays an important role in the adjustment of acute changes in the volume of extracellular fluid during experimental renal failure.