Interactions of atrial natriuretic peptide with the sympathetic and endocrine systems in the pithed rat

We have found previously that atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs) attenuate pressor response to alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists but not to alpha-1 agonists in the pithed rat. We have now investigated the effects of ANP on other pressor agonists and on sympathetically mediated responses in rats. Bolus-injected ANP (0.1-10.0 nmol/kg) attenuated pressor responses to angiotensin II, vasopressin and alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated component of norepinephrine (NE)-induced responses (up to 17, 27 and 15%, respectively) in pithed rats. The threshold antipressor dose of ANP was the lowest for angiotensin II (comparable to normal levels of circulating ANP-immunoreactivity in rats) whereas it was higher for vasopressin and NE (comparable to plasma ANP-immunoreactivity stimulated by volume expansion). A 30-min infusion of ANP (0.15 nmol/kg/min) shifted the NE dose-pressor response curve 1.7-fold to the right. Conversely, neither that rate of ANP infusion nor the highest dose of bolus injected ANP altered pressor and plasma NE responses to sympathetic stimulation in demedullated pithed rats. However, at higher infusion rates, ANP reduced sympathetic stimulation-induced pressor responses (2.6-fold) and elevations of plasma NE levels (1.6-fold), without altering NE clearance. Similarly in conscious rats, ANP infusion prevented a reflex increase in plasma NE concentrations associated with hypotension. Thus, although the intrajunctional alpha-1 and presynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors are inaccessible to the short term bolus-induced elevation of circulating ANP during longer term increases in plasma ANP, it does reach the junction, reduces NE release and limits effects of receptor activation, possibly by diminishing Ca++ entry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)