Porcine brain natriuretic peptide, another modulator of bovine adrenocortical steroidogenesis

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Abstract
Porcine brain natriuretic peptide (pBNP) significantly inhibited aldosterone production stimulated by an angiotensin II analog and ACTH‐stimulated cortisol secretion, together with simultaneously increasing the formation of cGMP in dispersed bovine adrenocortical cells. Receptors for pBNP were identified in bovine adrenal gland using an in vitro receptor autoradiographic technique and studies of 125I‐pBNP binding. In vitro receptor autoradiography demonstrated specific binding sites for 125I‐pBNP in bovine adrenal cortex. Complete displacement of 125I‐pBNP by unlabeled pBNP or human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) can take place at these sites. Analysis of 125I‐pBNP binding to bovine adrenocortical membrane fractions showed that the adrenal cortex had high‐affinity, low‐capacity pBNP‐binding sites, with a dissociation constant (K d) of 2.32 ± 0.33 × 10−10 M (mean ± SE) and a maximal binding capacity (B max) of 36.7 ± 1.6 fmol/mg protein. Moreover, the specific binding sites for 125I‐pBNP were completely displaced not only by unlabeled pBNP but also by unlabeled hANp. The hANP dose required for 50% inhibition of specific 125I‐pBNP binding was almost identical to that for pBNP (IC50 values for hANP and pBNP: 8.5 × 10−10 and 6.5 × 10−10 M, respectively). These results suggest that pBNP exerts a suppressive effect on bovine adrenocortical steroidogenesis via a receptor which may be shared with ANP.