Increased Human Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), first isolated from the brains of pigs,1 has a striking similarity to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) both in structure and in peripheral and central actions.1 2 3 4 BNP is also a cardiac hormone in pigs5 and rats.6 , 7 Antiserums against porcine or rat BNP, however, failed to detect BNP-like immunoreactivity in human tissues, indicating the structural diversity of BNP among species. Recently, we isolated human BNP from the atrium and determined its 32-amino-acid sequence.8