ANF decreases active sodium transport and increases alveolar epithelial permeability in rats

Previous studies reported that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) decreased lung edema in guinea pigs. To determine whether ANF protects against lung edema by increasing active Na+ transport and lung edema clearance, ANF (10(-7) M) was instilled into the air spaces (n = 5) or perfused through the pulmonary circulation (n = 5) of isolated perfused liquid-filled rat lungs. These animals were compared with five control rats and four rats having amiloride (10(-5) M) instilled into the air space. Amiloride reduced lung edema clearance by 65%, perfused ANF reduced lung edema clearance by 32%, and instilled ANF did not change edema clearance compared with responses in control rats after 70 min of experimental protocol. Passive Na+ movement increased by 91% with perfused ANF and by 52% with instilled ANF compared with that in control rats. Albumin flux from the perfusate into the air space increased in ANF-perfused lungs compared with control lungs (P < 0.05) but not when ANF or amiloride was instilled into the air spaces. These results suggest that ANF instilled into rat air spaces or perfused through the pulmonary circulation increases lung epithelial permeability and that ANF perfused through the pulmonary circulation decreases lung edema clearance due to impaired active Na+ transport. Conceivably, the previously observed protective effect of ANF was due to reduced pressures across the pulmonary circulation, which resulted in less edema formation.