A rapid bioassay for quantification of atrial natriuretic polypeptides

A quantitative bioassay for the detection and quantification of atrial natriuretic polypeptides (ANPs) was developed in a pentobarbital-anesthetized rat. Ten percent mannitol in 0.9% saline was infused to achieve stable diuresis. The conductivity of the urine, urine flow, and blood pressure were continuously recorded. A bolus injection of synthetic alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP) elicited dose-dependent increases in the urine conductivity, sodium excretion, and urine volume. Changes in the urine conductivity correlated significantly with the increase in sodium excretion. By use of changes in urine conductivity, biological ANP activity of crude rat atrial extract was determined. Atrial contents of ANP in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were 25.5 +/- 1.2 microgram per atrium (n = 4) and 25.1 +/- 0.8 (n = 5) in euhydration. They were increased to 27.0 +/- 1.1 micrograms (n = 4) and 29.3 +/- 1.3 (n = 5, P less than 0.05), after 5-day water deprivation, respectively. This assay procedure provides a good tool for rapid and quantitative determination of ANPs.