Radioimmunoassay for alpha-human and rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide

Using a synthetic common carboxy-terminal fragment of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP) and alpha-rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-rANP), we have produced an antiserum for alpha-ANP(17-28) and established a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for alpha-ANP that recognizes alpha-hANP and alpha-rANP equally. High performance gel permeation chromatography coupled with the RIA revealed that alpha-hANP-like immunoreactivity (alpha-hANP-LI) in the human atrium consists of three major components, gamma-hANP, alpha-hANP and another. On the other hand, alpha-rANP-LI in the rat atrium comprised at least two components, 13K alpha-rANP-LI and 3K-5K alpha-rANP-LI, which were presumably gamma-rANP and beta-rANP, respectively. Thus, considerable amounts of gamma-hANP and gamma-rANP are present in human right auricles and rat atria, respectively. The RIA established in this study provides a useful tool to investigate the pathophysiological significance of alpha-ANP and related peptides in cardiovascular disorders and shows that gamma-ANP is not only a precursor of alpha-ANP but acts as an important hormone.