Role of atrial natriuretic peptide in long-term volume homeostasis

1. Long-term volume homeostasis is linked very closely to long-term arterial pressure control through the renal-body fluid feedback mechanism. A key feature of this control system is the ability of the kidneys to respond to changes in arterial pressure by altering renal excretion of salt and water, often referred to as renal-pressure natriuresis. 2. Quantitative studies indicate that ANP secretion is relatively sensitive to changes in atrial pressure and that the rate of hormonal secretion does not adapt to continuous long-term stimulation. 3. Under normal conditions, the renal-body fluid feedback mechanism for arterial pressure control is very efficient in minimizing changes in body fluid volumes during alterations in sodium intake. Therefore, only small changes in atrial pressure and ANP secretion occur. Alterations in plasma ANP concentration within physiological levels have little effect on renal-pressure natriuresis and, therefore, have little impact on volume homeostasis. 4. When the renal-body fluid feedback mechanism for arterial pressure control is impaired and body fluid volumes are elevated, such as in heart failure, large increases in atrial pressure and ANP secretion occur. The resultant pathophysiological plasma levels of ANP exert sustained natriuretic effects and chronically shift renal-pressure natriuresis to lower arterial pressures. In the absence of this chronic effect of ANP on renal-pressure natriuresis, reduced arterial pressure in compensated heart failure would result in protracted retention of salt and water and additional increments in body fluid volumes.