We have validated a quantitative 'in-situ' hybridization method and computer-assisted image analysis of autoradiographs as a technique for measuring atrial-natriuretic-factor (ANF) mRNA in tissue sections of rat heart by: (i) producing radioactive standards to calibrate the autoradiograms and (ii) assessing: (a) specificity (through RNAase A background subtraction, comparison of ANF mRNA and no...

The effect of rat synthetic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on adenylate cyclase activity was studied in adrenal cortical membranes. Synthetic ANF (Arg 101-Tyr 126) inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The maximum inhibition observed was about 25% with an apparent ki of 5 X 10(-11) to 10(-10) M. Various hormones such as isoproterenol, dopamine, prostaglandin...

In !he present studies, we have investigated the modulation of atria1 nalriuretic factor (ANF) receptor of 82 subtype (ANF-RZ) coupled to adenylyl cyclase!cAMP Fignal transduction system by angiotensir 11 (All). C-ANFIm2, I CANFI-z~,IdesfGln’R, Ser’“, Gin=, Leu”, GlyzZ)ANF,-,,-NH21 and A!1 inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity in control vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC A-10) by about 40% and 3...

Numerous studies have shown that administration of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) increases urinary sodium excretion and urine flow, decreases blood pressure, and inhibits renin and aldosterone release. However, the role of endogenous ANF in the regulation of renal sodium excretion, blood pressure, plasma renin activity, and aldosterone level remains to be elucidated. To examine this issue, en...

In the presence of 1 microM atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and low (0.1 mM) Mg2+ concentrations, the initial rate of binding of [3H]guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate [( 3H]p[NH]ppG) to rat lung plasma membranes was increased twofold to threefold. ANF-dependent stimulation of the initial rate of [3H]p[NH]ppG binding was reduced at high (5 mM) Mg2+ concentrations. Preincubation of mem...

In most rat models studied to date, increased ventricular mass is associated with high ventricular expression of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) gene. However, it is unknown whether ANF plays a beneficial or detrimental role in the course of left ventricular hypertrophy or whether ANF gene expression could be genetically linked to cardiac mass. To address such questions, we performed a cose...

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on arterial baroreflex chronotropic responses and to investigate whether this effect of ANF is affected by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (CEI). For this purpose, in 13 normal volunteers, the reflex chronotropic responses to arterial baroreceptor stimulation (phenylephrine, 25-100 jig i.v.) or deactiv...

A short and up-to-date review on the great advances made in the field of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is presented. All the short active peptides (up to 33 AA) isolated after purification of atrial homogenates have the same core of 23 amino acids (Ser 103-ARG 125). The ANF liberated in the medium of cultures of rat atrial cardiocytes is the 26 amino acid Arg 101-Tyr 126. Cloning of the c...

To assess possible roles of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in the regulation of blood pressure in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats, we performed two series of experiments. First, we studied acute hypotensive, and natriuretic and diuretic effects of ANF in pentobarbital-anesthetized DOCA-salt hypertensive rats and age-matched controls. A synthetic rat ANF was intravenou...

Specific granules of rat atrial myocytes contain a potent fast-acting atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and have been observed in all mammalian atria thus far examined. In this study, using a rat assay we found ANF in rat, rabbit, dog, baboon, and man. The ANF's from these species induced the characteristic diuresis and natriuresis of rapid onset and decay. The human and rat ANF's were acid-extra...