Hemodynamic effects of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP) in rats

alpha-Human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP) was infused in anesthetized Wistar rats, and its hemodynamic effects were investigated by measuring mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate, cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI) and total peripheral resistance index (TPRI). alpha-hANP caused a reduction in MBP (approximately 20%) associated with decreases in CI and SVI but caused no change in TPRI. These results suggested that alpha-hANP may lower blood pressure mainly by decreasing cardiac output.