Increased levels of a humoral digitalis-like factor in deoxycorticosterone acetate-induced hypertension in the pig

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Abstract
Plasma levels of an endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) and atrial peptides were followed in pigs confined to metabolic cages during the development of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-induced hypertension. During the first 2 days of DOCA treatment, urinary sodium excretion decreased and the plasma levels of renin and atrial peptide fell significantly. During this period, plasma levels of EDLF increased > 30-fold from a baseline of r = 0·87, P< 0·05; atrial peptide, r = 0·9, P< 0·05) and with each other (r = 0·96, P < 0·05) over a 20-day period. Acute expansion of extracellular fluid volume before DOCA elicited significant increments in plasma EDLF and atrial peptide. Volume loading during chronic DOCA treatment increased plasma EDLF significantly whereas no response of atrial peptide was detected. These results suggest that DOCA affects the reactivity of mechanisms involved in the perception of and/or response to acute changes in volume status. However, neither EDLF nor atrial peptide appear to be viable candidates as direct mediators of mineralocorticoid escape. Finally, the nature of the changes found in EDLF and atrial peptide levels during DOCA treatment suggest that these factors are involved in the long-term control of blood pressure in this model of low renin hypertension. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 122, 409–420