Atrial natriuretic factor suppresses neural stimulation of renin release in dogs

The effects of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on neural control of renin release and sodium excretion by the kidney were examined in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. Electrical stimulation of the renal nerves (RNS, 1 Hz) increased the renal secretion rate of renin (RSR) by 627 +/- 141 ng angiotensin I (ANG I)/min and that of norepinephrine (NESR) by 22.2 +/- 5.9 ng/min. Furthermore, urinary sodium excretion (UNaV) was decreased by 59 +/- 7%, with little change in either renal blood flow (RBF) or glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Intrarenal arterial infusion of ANF (alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide; 10 ng.kg-1.min-1) increased basal UNaV about twofold but had no effect on basal RBF or GFR. The RNS-induced increase in RSR during ANF infusion (198 +/- 117 ng ANG I/min) was significantly lower than that before the infusion (P less than 0.05), whereas the RNS-induced changes in NESR (27.1 +/- 8.5 ng/min) and UNaV (51 +/- 11%) were unaffected. These results suggest that neural stimulation of renin release, but not of tubular sodium reabsorption, can be suppressed by exogenously administered ANF at a dose that does not affect glomerular filtration or renal neurotransmitter release.