Central C-type natriuretic peptide augments the hormone response to hemorrhage in conscious sheep

The effect of intracerebroventricular infusions of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP-22, 5 micrograms/h for 3 h) or vehicle on the neurohumoral response of conscious sheep (n = 7) to acute moderate hemorrhage (15 ml/kg in 15 min performed 1 h after start of CNP) was studied. CNP alone (prehemorrhage) induced a transient rise (after 30 min) in heart rate (p = 0.0005), plasma aldosterone (p = 0.007), ACTH (p = 0.049), and cortisol (p = 0.049), with values returning to control levels immediately prehemorrhage. Hemorrhage caused arterial pressure to fall (15 mmHg) and heart rate to rise similarly on both study days. Compared with vehicle, posthemorrhage responses of AVP (p = 0.05) and cortisol (p = 0.004) were greater during CNP. Thus, central CNP-22 augmented the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis at baseline and in response to hemorrhage in conscious sheep.