Effect of some oxytocin analogues on natriuresis in rats

Non-anaesthetized rats were used for studying the relationship between the amount of sodium excreted and structural modifications of oxytocin molecule. Any change performed in position 4 (i.e. the glutamine residue) resulted in a decrease of natriuretic activity as compared to that of oxytocin. The analogues with modifications in the amino-terminal part of the molecule (e.g. substitution of the amino group in position 1 by hydrogen, or of the disulfide bond by a thioether group) resulted in a higher natriuretic effect than oxytocin.