Is there a pericardial restriction to the cardiac secretion of atrial natriuretic factor?

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is secreted from atrial myocytes in response to increased atrial wall stress caused by increased transmural pressure. This study investigates whether the presence of an intact pericardium restricts the ANF secretory response to an increment in left atrial pressure caused by acute aortic constriction in anaesthetized open-chest pigs. The rise in ANF plasma concentration secondary to constriction was higher when the pericardium had been surgically opened than when it was left intact. Furthermore, an opened pericardium led to a larger increase during constriction in left atrial diameter as measured by sonomicrometry. The results suggest that the intact pericardium restricts the cardiac release of ANF secondary to aortic constriction, probably by restricting left atrial dilatation.