The sequence of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) has been determined, as well as the complete structure of the rat and human complementary DNA and gene. ANF and ANF messenger RNA are present not only in atria but also in ventricles. The circulating form of ANF has been identified as the C-terminal of the molecule, ANF (Ser 99-Tyr 126). The isolated secretory granules of rat atrial cardiocytes co...

We report here that the rat heart is a site of oxytocin (OT) synthesis and release. Oxytocin was detected in all four chambers of the heart. The highest OT concentration was in the right atrium (2128 +/- 114 pg/mg protein), which was 19-fold higher than in rat uterus but 3.3-fold lower than in the hypothalamus. OT concentrations were significantly greater in the right and left atria than in the...

Objective: Several studies have shown that Chichorium intybus L. (C. intybus) which possesses flavonoid compounds has an effective role in treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Contractile dysfunction mostly occurs after acute myocardial infarction, cardiac bypass surgery, heart transplantation and coronary angioplasty. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extra...

Rat heart and other organs contain mRNA coding for connexin43, a polypeptide homologous to a gap junction protein from liver (connexin32). To provide direct evidence that connexin43 is a cardiac gap junction protein, we raised rabbit antisera directed against synthetic oligopeptides corresponding to two unique regions of its sequence, amino acids 119-142 and 252-271. Both antisera stained the i...