Changes in plasma level of alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-ANP) and responsiveness of the aorta to exogenous alpha-ANP subsequent to myocardial infarction in rats.

The changes in plasma level of alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-ANP) and the relaxing responses to exogenous alpha-ANP of strips of rat aorta pretreated with methoxamine were examined at one, four and eight weeks after myocardial infarction induced by left coronary ligation. Responses to a beta-adrenergic stimulant, isoprenaline, and sodium nitroprusside of the vessel pretreated with high potassium were also evaluated up to twelve weeks. Plasma concentrations of immunoreactive alpha-ANP, which were measured at one, four and twelve weeks, were significantly elevated in rats with myocardial infarction (MI-rats) as compared with sham-operated rats (sham-rats). The relaxation responses of the aorta to exogenenous alpha-ANP in MI-rats were significantly reduced at one and four weeks as compared with sham-rats. The difference was, however, less obvious at eight weeks. The responses to isoprenaline tended to be reduced from the 1st week to the 12th week, and the difference was significant at eight weeks, whereas those to methoxamine and sodium nitroprusside were unchanged. It is concluded that the MI-rats are partially resistant to the vasodilating effects of alpha-ANP and isoprenaline without any change in responses to the alpha-stimulant and sodium nitroprusside, although these changes are transient.