Enhanced Natriuretic and Hypotensive Responsiveness to α-Human Atrial Natriuretic Polypeptide (α-hANP) in Shr

Abstract
Natriuretic and hypotensive effects of synthetic .alpha.-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (.alpha.-hANP) were investigated in anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The renal excretory and hypotensive effects of .alpha.-hANP were strengthened in a dose-dependent manner in both strains of rat. The natriuretic response to three doses of .alpha.-hANP (0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 .mu.g/kg) were significantly greater in SHR than in WKY. These results suggest that atrial natriuretic polypeptide may play some role in water-electrolyte balance and control of blood pressure in SHR.