Central action of atrial natriuretic polypeptide on blood pressure in conscious rats

The effect of intracerebroventricular administration of atrial natriuretic polypeptide on blood pressure was studied in conscious, unrestrained rats. The intracerebroventricular injection of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide did not promote any significant change in basal blood pressure, whereas it attenuated central angiotensin II-induced pressor response in a dose-dependent manner. The plasma atrial natriuretic polypeptide level did not change after the central administration of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide. These data implicate atrial natriuretic polypeptide as a factor in blood pressure regulation in the central nervous system.